Former Pilgrim standout Talia D’Ambruoso is in the midst of a fine run of form on the soccer pitch for UMass-Dartmouth, transforming herself into the focal point of the Corsair attack in the process.

The junior midfielder has scored a goal in three of the team’s last four matches, currently placing the former Patriot in a tie for the team lead with four for the season.

D’Ambruoso’s recent exploits in front of goal began on Sept. 25, when she opened the scoring in the 19th minute of UMass-Dartmouth’s 4-1 victory over Rhode Island College.

Five days later, D’Ambruoso’s name was first on the scoresheet again, converting a feed from Abby Silva to put the Corsairs ahead against Bridgewater State 26 minutes into the contest.

However, the UMass-Dartmouth 11 failed to convert their lead into a win, as the Bears’ Marissa Yowell seized on a Corsair defensive mistake five minutes later, setting the stage for Hannah Capone to come off the bench to blast home the match-winner halfway through the second half.

D’Ambruoso and her UMass-Dartmouth teammates were then silenced on Saturday, falling to UMass-Boston 1-0 despite registering 19 shots in the poor conditions.

The Corsairs returned to action on Monday evening, taking on Fitchburg State in a non-league match that was the fifth game in the team’s last six that was played on home turf.

Familiar surroundings helped UMass-Dartmouth to clip the Falcons’ wings, with the Corsairs finishing proceedings with a 4-0 triumph.

In contrast to the RIC and Bridgewater State matches, D’Ambruoso finished the scoring, but her contributions were not limited to her goal in the 52nd minute of play.

She picked up a pair of assists, helping to get UMass-Dartmouth going by firing a free kick in the ninth minute that was deflected by fellow Pilgrim alumna Nicole Starkey-Cox, who then set up Silva for her fourth goal of the campaign.

D’Ambruoso then picked up her second helper of the contest—and her team-high fourth of the season—in the 49th minute by hitting a lofted ball in the direction of Erica Farias, who then volleyed it into the Fitchburg State net to make the score 3-0.

Other notes

Ex-Hawk Ryan Brannigan notched five tackles and picked up half a sack in Endicott’s 31-27 victory versus MIT on Saturday...Warwick Vets graduate Nick Salois forced and recovered a fumble early in the final quarter of Bridgewater State’s Saturday contest against Western Connecticut. The Bears converted the turnover into a touchdown, which proved to be the difference in the team’s 34-27 triumph over the Colonials...Hendricken alum Torrey Stricklin picked up an assist on Gordon’s second goal in the Fighting Scots’ 3-1 upset over then-19th-ranked Eastern Connecticut on Sept. 22. After starting the season 2-2, the Gordon 11 have won their last six matches and are now ranked eighth in New England.