DANBURY, Conn. - Sophomore Filipe Dutra (Naugatuck, Conn.) converted the would-be game-winning goal on a free kick attempt in the first half as the Western Connecticut State University men's soccer team outlasted visiting Little East Conference archrival Eastern Connecticut State University, 1-0, under the lights at the Westside Athletic Complex on Wednesday. 

With the win, the Wolves improved to 11-2-2 overall and 4-0-1 in league play, while the Warriors dropped to 4-5-2 and 2-3. The hosts finished ahead in shots, 11-5, and corner kick opportunities, 3-2.

WestConn came out strong and dictated the tempo in the first half. Dutra ripped a righty rocket just underneath the crossbar from just outside the box 7:57 into the contest to capture an early 1-0 lead. They would not relinquish it the rest of the way. However, Eastern came out strong in the second half and had several quality chances to notch the equalizer. Warrior sophomore Niall O'Brien (Guilford, Conn.) fired a shot that appeared to be headed into the corner of the twine but Wolves sophomore goalkeeper Zachary Benson (Milford, Conn.) smothered it before it could cross the line. Benson finished the game with three saves, improving to 7-1-1 overall. 

Eastern senior netminder Dylan Pallanck (Willington, Conn.) turned aside two shots and fell to 4-4.

The physicality picked up during the stanza. Nonetheless, WestConn maintained its composure en route to escaping with the win. The Wolves will look to string together another winning streak when they travel to LEC nemesis UMass Boston on Saturday.