Patrick Fergus
@Fergus5Fergus
Maitoe Suppasuesanguan took a deep breath, glared down the wall of defenders in front of him, and delivered a superb free-kick strike through the chilly evening air and into the left netting. The score cemented a dominant 4-0 victory over Framingham St. on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at Brock-Affleck Field.
An exuberant, wide-smiled Suppasuesanguan blissfully dashed over to the sideline fence, waving to the crowd in a celebration.
The 72nd-minute goal was the third of four goals for the Pride, a season-high and a much needed offensive outburst after back-to-back games without a score.
“It feels really good, obviously,” head coach Tommy Crabill said about the four-score performance. “We played hard, and we’re happy with the result.”
Once again though, the defensive prowess of the Springfield backline shined. They registered their fifth clean sheet of the season, limiting Framingham to just a single shot all night with none being on goal.
“It’s about organization, good communication and being disciplined in finding our shape,” Crabill said. “We were max focused in those transition moments.”
Every through ball and near post chance found a defender’s foot and was quickly cleared of any danger. Despite aggressive attacks down the flanks and up the middle, junior defenseman Brandon Trent and the rest of the Pride’s rigid defensive skills were persistent.
“We’ve done a great job of communicating and playing as a unit, and that’s really helped us,” Trent said.
A steady aggression on the offensive end evident early. The Pride had multiple scoring chances in the opening 10 minutes, and after an excellent cross from Suppasuesanguan, defenseman Tristan Moran broke through. Soaring across the box, Moran made a graceful first touch and blasted it into the back of the net.
Springfield wouldn’t park the bus; instead, a string of scores followed after two key substitutions.
Midfielder Charlie Heth and forward Parker Thornton, both substitutes midway through the first half, immediately impacted the team’s offensive presence.
A dizzying lob pass from Thornton in the 39th minute drifted over defenders’ heads and found the cleats of a streaking Heth, who put away the Pride’s second goal – the first of his career.
“I kind of blacked out,” Thornton said. “I had more time than I thought, turned and played Charlie through, which he finished beautifully.”
Thornton added his own goal after capitalizing on a mistake by Framingham St. goalkeeper Joseph Sturzo.
For the Pride, six of the remaining eight games will pit them against conference opponents, and Crabill is confident the difference will be the effort in training.
“We have to be fully locked on those practice sessions because they are equally, if not more important than matchday,” Crabill said.
Springfield looks to close out the first month with a win as they host Coast Guard this Saturday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics