DANBURY, Conn. - After a tough LEC loss on Saturday, the Western Connecticut State University men's soccer squad suffered a heartbreaking defeat as they fell to visiting non-league foe Western New England University, 3-1, on Tuesday night at the Westside Athletic Complex. The hosts trailed early but knotted the count at 1-1 when rookie forward Jordan Dacosta (Jamaica, N.Y.) scored. However, the Golden Bears countered with a goal in the 80th minute before adding an empty net insurance marker with less than 55 seconds remaining.

With the loss, WestConn dropped to 6-3 overall, while Western New England improved to 5-1-1. WestConn will seek to rebound when they host Lehman College in a non-conference matchup on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The visitors tallied the first goal of the game when senior midfielder Sean O'Neill (Belchertown, Mass.) lined a free kick over the WestConn wall into the top-right corner of the twine from just outside the box in the 28th minute. 

Shortly thereafter, Dacosta gathered a 60-yard boot downfield from senior goalkeeper Daniel Szabo (Trumbull, Conn.) and tapped the ball into an open net after the Golden Bears' goalie couldn't get out of the net quickly enough to intercept the pass. 

The hosts had their chances in the second half. Senior backer Harrison Allers (Wilton, Conn.) gained control of the ball inside the box and fired a shot just wide of the right post with 13:30 left on the clock. WestConn also had a pair of shots from inside the box blocked within 5 seconds just moments later.

The visitors took the lead when rookie midfielder Mike Milazzo (Old Lyme, Conn.) streaked downfield on a rush with two teammates and would roll a shot into the back of the twine for the game-winner. WestConn flooded the box with players on a corner kick attempt in the final minute. However, the ball ricocheted out to midfield and WNE senior forward Matt Remillard (Palmer, Mass.) raced away uncontested with the ball to skip it into the empty net. 

Szabo dropped to 6-3 overall and stopped six shots, while Golden Bear rookie goalkeeper Colin Waltsak (East Longmeadow, Mass) improved to 1-0 and recorded five saves.