DANBURY, Conn. - Freshman Matthews Rocha (Danbury, Conn.) scored the game's only goal and classmate Makai Smith (Bridgeport, Conn.) made five saves behind the Western Connecticut State University defense that has not allowed a goal since September 13, as the Wolves blanked the visiting University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Corsairs, 1-0, in Little East Conference (LEC) men's soccer action this afternoon at Westside Stadium. 

The Wolves improve to 6-4-2 overall and 3-0 in the LEC with their fifth win in a row while extending their unbeaten streak to six games and their streak of scoreless minutes to 452 in a row.  The Corsairs fall to 5-3-1 overall and 1-1-1 in the league with their first loss in four games.  WestConn visits conference rival UMass-Boston next on Saturday, October 4 at noon.  The Corsairs visit Salem State on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Neither goalie was tested in the early going, although Smith picked up two saves in the first 20 minutes on light Corsair shots, before Rocha notched his third goal in two games on a rebound of a shot from close on the right side by sophomore teammate Nickolas Santana (New Haven, Conn.) in the 23rd minute.  Smith needed to make one more stop and UMass-Dartmouth goalie Ethan Donahue totaled three saves in the first half. 

The Corsairs nearly tied the game in the 55th minute when Mario Rodriguez intercepted a pass in the Wolves backfield but saw his hard blast carom off the cross bar.  Wolves freshman Jokin Martinez (Jamaica, N.Y.) similarly stole the ball from the UMass-Dartmouth defense moments later but his shot with just Donahue left to beat was wide to the right.

The two closest chances to change the score were a header by WestConn junior back Enzo LaGrassa-Gillet (Miami, Fla.) off a corner kick from the right side in the 67th minute that also hit the cross bar, and a clear look by UMass-Dartmouth freshman Aidan Marando from straight-on that Smith collected on a short hop in the 80th minute of play.  

WestConn outshot the Corsairs, 19 to 7, and had six corner kicks to two for the visitors.  The Corsairs doubled up the Wolves in fouls, 16-8.  WestConn's backfield of LaGrassa-Gillet, senior Nickolas Chevres (Miami, Fla.), sophomore Manny Catarino (Danbury, Conn.), and freshman Gabriel Lopes (Danbury, Conn.) has yielded just 18 shots-on-goal over the last five games, all shutouts.