Willimantic, Conn.--Senior forward Jonathan Oliveira (Providence, R.I.) scored his eighth goal of the season as No. 4-seeded Rhode Island College saw its season come to an end at No. 1-seeded Eastern Connecticut in the semifinals of the 2021 Little East Conference Men's Soccer Championship on Thursday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Eastern Connecticut State 3, Rhode Island College 1
Eastern Connecticut State (12-6)
Rhode Island College (11-7-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The first goal came just before the end of the first half in the 44^th minute thanks to Warrior senior defender Jackson Trierweiler (Framingham, Mass.). He came off the bench to score and was set up by junior forward Ryan Sirois (Tolland, Conn.) and senior defender Larson Richards (Mansfield, Conn.).
 
• The half came to a close with the hosts leading in shots (8-3) and shots on goal (5-0), while RIC took the lone corner kick. The visitors also committed 12 fouls compared to ECSU's four.
 
• Trierweiler headed in the eventual game-winning goal in the 71^st minute with his second of the game and third of the campaign.
 
• Shortly after, in the 74th minute, the Warriors buried another shot, this time off the boot of freshman forward Logan Brennan (Farmingdale, Conn.). The goal marked Brennan's third strike on the season and he was helped by junior forward Ryan Jamieson (Ellington, Conn.).
 
• With the game winding down, Rhode Island College struck late in the 82^nd minute. Oliveira converted his eighth goal, which ranks second on the squad, thanks to passes from junior forward Brandon Ramos (Boston, Mass.) and graduate defender James Petrella (Willington, Conn.).
 
• Eastern Connecticut advances to host the winner of No. 2-seeded UMass Boston vs. No. 3-seeded Western Connecticut State on Saturday, Nov. 6 in the finals.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• RIC senior goalkeeper Charlie Tashjian (West Warwick, R.I.) made five saves (10-7-1) in his final collegiate game.
 
• ECSU sophomore goalkeeper Dylan Pallank (Willington, Conn.) earned the win (10-5), making three saves on nine shots faced.
 
• The Warriors led in shots (13-9) and shots on goal (8-4). RIC held a slight advantage in corner kicks (5-4).
 
• This will be Eastern Connecticut State's third straight trip to the LEC Championship finals. The Warriors are 0-2 in their past two trips with losses to Keene State (2019) and Western Connecticut State (2018).