WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – For the first time since 2016 and first time on the road since 2014, UMass Boston Men's Soccer took down three-time defending Little East Conference Champion Eastern Connecticut State University at Thomas Nevers Field, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 3, Eastern Connecticut State University 1
UMass Boston (3-2-1, 1-0 LEC)
Worcester State (2-2-2, 0-1 LEC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sophomore forward Logan Brennan got the scoring started for the Warriors in the sixth minute of play after receiving a pass for freshman forward Cayden Boukas to give Eastern an early 1-0 lead.
The Beacon offense would respond quickly with two shots going wide of the net by sophomore midfielder
Annilson DePina Fernandes and freshman forward
Nick Braganca in the 13
th and 16
th minutes, the only shots by UMass Boston until a header by junior forward
Josh DeAlmeida went wide in the 45
th minute.
Both teams would combine for only eight total shots with only three reaching the goal, all by the Warriors with junior goalkeeper
Qasim El-Ashkar making two saves.
UMass Boston's offense would come to life in the second half with DePina Fernandes getting the Beacons on the scoreboard with a goal in the 53
rd minute from freshman midfielder
Luan Cruz. In the 69
th minute, sophomore forward
Dylan Kelley recorded his first collegiate goal to give UMass Boston their first lead of the day, 2-1.
Scoring his fourth goal of the season and third goal this week, junior forward
Josh DeAlmeida gave the Beacons some insurance with his goal on a pass from freshman midfielder
Ryan Lima in the 77
th minute as UMass Boston earned only their second road win in program history against the Warriors, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon.
BY THE NUMBERS
- This was only the second time in program history in which UMass Boston has defeated Eastern Connecticut on the road (2014)
- The two-goal margin of victory is the largest road victory against Eastern Connecticut in program history
- The Beacons had lost three consecutive matches to the Warriors coming into the day
- In the matchup history, UMass Boston has scored 3-plus goals in only six games versus Eastern, winning five of the six games
- UMass Boston recorded only three shots on goal, scoring on each of them
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston finishes their seven-game road trip against Bridgewater State University on Monday night at 7:00 PM. The Beacons have won their last two matchups against the Bears by three-plus goals.