FRANKLIN, Mass. – September 7, 2023 – The Dean College men's soccer team scored the first five goals of the game en route to a 5-2 non-conference victory over Fitchburg State at the Longley Athletic Complex on Thursday afternoon.  

Dean (2-1) will resume conference play on Saturday at newest member New England College with a 3 p.m. start. Fitchburg State (2-1) hosts Rhode Island College on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Senior Luke Palmer (Windsor Locks, Conn.) got the scoring going with his first tally of the season in the 15th minute.

In the 24th minute, sophomore Chris Tunley (Henderson, Nev.) put home his first collegiate goal off a feed from sophomore Melvin Alves (Brockton, Mass.).

Tunley then set up senior teammate Bryce King (Athol, Mass.), 12 minutes later, for his first goal of the year and a 3-0 Dean lead heading into the halftime break.

In the early stages of the second frame, Fitchburg State was awarded a penalty kick for their best scoring opportunity of the contest. Dean senior goalie Alberto Gonzalez Del Rio (Madrid, Spain) made the save, but was called for being off his line. The Falcons took another chance, but Gonzalez Del Rio was up to the task once again and kept the visitors off the scoreboard.

The Bulldogs carried the momentum to put another goal on the board less than two minutes later. Tunley was at it again when he finished a beautiful cross by senior Sean Doherty (Chelmsford, Mass.) for the 4-0 lead.

In the 54th minute, Alves set up teammate Shavar Champagnie (West Yarmouth, Mass.) with a scoring chance that he finished into the back of the net for a 5-0 lead.

The Falcons got another penalty kick chance in the 75th minute. In similar fashion to the first opportunity, Gonzalez made the initial save but was called for a line infraction. Fitchburg State junior Elijah Kalombo (Worcester, Mass.) took advantage and converted the second chance for the Falcons' first goal of the match.

A minute later, Fitchburg State was awarded another penalty kick. Gonzalez Del Rio continued his good form and made the stop to keep the score at 5-1 in favor of Dean.

Fitchburg State notched its second goal of the game with less than three minutes to play when senior Brandt St. Gelais (Melrose, N.Y.) converted a penalty kick to make the final 5-2.

Gonzalez Del Rio earned the win in his first start of the season with three saves.

Junior keeper Luke Speers (Collegeville, Pa.) allowed five goals and made three saves in 55 minutes. Freshman Alexander Carvalho (North Providence, R.I.) played the final 35 minutes and kept the Bulldogs scoreless with two saves.