Danbury, Conn.--Senior goalkeeper Wesley Perrotto (Pembroke, Mass.) made a career-high 16 saves as No. 3 Rhode Island College battled No. 1 Western Connecticut to a scoreless double-overtime draw, before the Wolves won the final on penalty kicks to claim the 2024 Little East Men's Soccer Championship.
 
THE BASICS
No. 3 Rhode Island College 0, No. 1 Western Connecticut 0 (WestConn wins on penalty kicks: 3-1)
Rhode Island College (11-6-3)
Western Connecticut (15-4-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Wolves put a shot on goal nine minutes into the game, Perrotto was there to turn it away.
 
• The Anchormen were awarded a free kick due to a WestConn foul in the 23^rd minute, which Recinos stepped over to take. He found freshman defender Andrew Albamonti (Westerly, R.I.) who headed the ball just centimeters over the crossbar.
 
• With both team's defenses holding strong, the first half ended in an even, 0-0, score.
 
• Senior midfielder Anthony Recinos (Providence, R.I.) was handed consecutive yellow cards in the 67^th minute, forcing the Anchormen to finish the game with 10 men.
 
• The Wolves were tasked with a similar situation as with 55 seconds left in regulation, going down to 10 men as junior defender Romario Bunjaj (Mahopac, N.Y.) was booked for a second yellow.
 
• Perrotto would come up big once again, having to make a diving save in the 115^th minute to keep RIC level and eventually send the game to penalty kicks.
 
• Junior midfielder Tariq Adio (Providence, R.I.) was the first to take a penalty and had his shot saved. The Wolves would answer with a goal and go up, 1-0, on penalty kicks.
 
• After the teams traded a goal and a save apiece, freshman midfielder Nathan Capelo (Rumford, R.I.) had his attempt stopped to give the Wolves the win.
 
• WestConn outshot RIC, 36-11, on the day, which included a 16-5 advantage in shots on goal.
 
• RIC was playing its third game in five days. Each of the Little East Championship games RIC saw action in went to overtime.