Willimantic, Conn.-The Rhode Island College men's soccer team opened its Little East Conference schedule with a 1-0 victory at Eastern Connecticut at Thomas Nevers field on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS

Rhode Island College 1, Eastern Connecticut 0

(Rhode Island College 2-3-1, 1-0 LEC)

(Eastern Connecticut 4-2, 0-1 LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams battled through a scoreless first half with RIC holding a 7-5 advantage in shots for the stanza.

• RIC got the only goal of the contest at the 79:27 mark of the second half when junior midfielder Dennis Vazquez (Providence, RI) put in a free kick from the left side of the field into the upper corner of the net to propel the Anchormen to the 1-0 victory. 

• Freshman Charlie Tashjian (West Warwick, RI) (2-2-1) had seven saves to earn his first collegiate shutout in net for RIC, while junior Ryan Murphy (Cromwell, CT) recorded two stops for Eastern Connecticut in the loss.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Eastern Connecticut held a 14-12 advantage in shots and a 5-4 margin in corner kicks for the contest.

WHO'S NEXT

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Southern Maine on Saturday, Sept. 23 (1 p.m.).