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REHOBOTH - Tyler Rosa scored a pair of first half-goals for the Dighton-Rehoboth Falcons. Mike DaSilva netted a pair of second half goals for the Seekonk High Warriors. Both spectacular solo efforts.

Just what you would expect, a lot of excitement in the renewal of the South Coast Conference rivalry.

However, it was senior midfielder Greg Moulding who stuck his toe on the ball amidst a crowd of players in the penalty box area with four minutes left in the SCC match Monday at the Bliss Soccer Complex to give the Falcons (2-0) a 3-2 margin of victory.

"We held on, but we have the win games like that," sighed D-R coach Steve Kulpa after watching DaSilva victimize the Falcon defense for goals in the 43rd and 71st minutes of the match.

"We probably should have had a point, but their guy wanted the goal more than we wanted to clear the ball," sighed Seekonk mentor Jeff Creamer of the Falcons' match-winner. Seconds earlier, Moulding had just mis-fired on a one-touch volley from the top left side of the penalty box area, Seekonk coach Zach Caron knocking the ball into the far right corner.

But there, was where Rosa does his best work. The senior D-R midfielder has a nose for the ball and great possession skills, taking control and sending it back into the goal-mouth area. This time, Moulding got his right foot onto the ball and it touched the back of the twine.

Rosa (five goals in two matches) put D-R ahead in the fifth minute, taking a feed from Moulding, running into the right corner and lofting a shot over Caron to the far left corner. And in the final minute of the first half, Rosa worked his magic again, breaking through a trio of Seekonk defenders with the ball at his feet, unleashing a lone drive from the left side.

"A two-goal lead, that's the worst that you can have," said Kulpa of his Falcons' second half complacency. Meanwhile, Seekonk's Sam Martin, Casey O'Brien and DaSilva began to assert themselves at midfield.

"We were flat on our feet," said Kulpa of D-R not responding. "That was unacceptable. Seekonk's an arch-rival, they came out strong. It's all about pressure and playing under control."

DaSilva weaved his way through the D-R defense twice for goals. Early in the second half, he labeled a 15-yard drive to the top right corner past Falcon goalie Tyler Snook, Martin assisting. Then DaSilva netted the tying goal with nine minutes left in regulation time, taking the ball around a pair of D-R defenders.

D-R might have had more than a two-goal lead by halftime. Carlos Alvarez, Rosa and Moulding all had solid shots at 30, 13 and 14 taken down by Caron. and Jake Soifert uncorked a shot that Caron tipped over the bar at 32. Seekonk was unable to generate consistency and pressure, b ut O'Brien had a good right-footed shot at 24, Mike Grela sent a dangerous cross that Snook tipped away at 26 and Edgar Lopez fired a right-footed drive at 36.

D-R returns to action Wednesday at home, a non-league match with Bridgewater-Raynham, while Seekonk has an SCC match at home against Case.

Dighton-Rehoboth girls 3, Seekonk 2

SEEKONK - Megan DeCastro netted a pair of second-half goals as the Falcons hung on and spoiled Seekonk's season opener. DeCastro scored from Susie Newman in the 45th minute and then again in the 52nd minute to break a 1-all halftime tie and give D-R a 3-1 advantage. A Megan DeBarros goal for Seekonk (assisted by Sarah St. Hilaire) made for an interesting finish as the Warriors pressed for the equalizer.

D-R's Kathleen Smith had opened the scoring six minutes in on a pass from Danielle Flores. Seekonk's Vanessa Senecal had an unassisted goal three minutes later to send the teams into the half all square. Krista DiSano had a sparkling debut for Seekonk at sweeper while goalie Krista Chauvin made four saves.

For D-R (1-0-1), Michaela Medeiros had two saves while Amanda Louro, Jenn Braga and Alyssa DaSilva all played well.