BOSTON, MA (October 16, 2024) – The UMass Boston men's soccer team rolled past the Huskies of the University of Southern Maine on Wednesday afternoon, October 16, as the Beacons put up five goals in a shutout for the second consecutive game this season.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE: UMass Boston 5 – 0 University of Southern Maine
UMB 6-1-4 (4-0-1 Little East Conference)
USM 1-7-6 (0-3-2 LEC)
How it Happened

• The Beacons initiated the offense early on, and were able to strike first in the stat sheet. Just before the sixth minute of play, senior defender Logan Erickson Potter (Swansea, Mass.) played sophomore forward Rafael Gross (Minas Gerais, Bra.) from the left wing. Gross used impeccable dribbling skills to dance around the Huskies' defense before firing his shot into the right side netting for the game's first score. Gross would follow it up again moments later in the sixth minute. First-year forward Eduardo Chirico (Minas Gerais, Bra.) and sophomore midfielder Patrick Garcia (Brookline, Mass.) connected for a one-two tiki-taka pass that opened the driving lane wide for Chirico. Chirico carried possession into the open space down the left wing before providing a perfectly placed cross to Gross, as Gross finished the attack cool, calm, and collected for the game's second tally.
• Just over halfway through the first 45 minutes of play, graduate midfielder Nathaniel Wong (Hong Kong, Chi.) would put away his first collegiate goal, donning the Beacons' jersey. An initial UMass Boston shot ricocheted off the Huskies' defense and found the feet of Beacons' senior defender Diego Gisholt (Tijuana, Mex.), who noticed Wong on the cut and played him short just outside the 18-yard box. Wong let it rip and sent the Huskies' keeper diving in the opposite direction, as Wong's shot found ride-side netting for the Beacons' third tally.
• Now in the second half, the Beacons scored a fourth in the 69th minute, following Chirico's playmaking tactics once again. He received possession from the Beacons' defense just past midfield and used one dribble to fly through his defender with another on his back.  Chirico laid off a curling through ball down the right sideline to find Garcia on the run, as he sent in a chip shot off one touch to put it over the diving Huskies' keeper.
• The day's final goal was an unforgettable submission for the Beacons' goal of the year. Sophomore forward John Arruda (Espirito Santo, Bra.) received possession off the throw-in. Arruda dribbled across the 18-yard box from right to left, looking for a shot, but could not find one. Instead, he laid a pass off to first-year midfielder Amir Lahkiky (Melrose, Mass.). Lahkiky would take a delicate touch while keeping the USM defense on his back. Nearly losing balance, he turned one touch into another and fired off an Andre Pirlo-esque shot that curled over, then under the crossbar, and perfectly into the left side netting for the day's final goal.

By the Numbers

• The Beacons outshot the Huskies 18-4 (10-1 shots on target), while graduate Andy Ramirez (Waltham, Mass.) and junior Victor Reyes (La Union, El Savador.) combined for the shutout. The corner-kick advantage was even at three apiece for both teams. USM committed 14 fouls compared to the Beacons' 10.
• Gross leaves the pitch with the most season points from the matchup, as he scored two off four shots (team-high shots/shots on goal) to bring his season totals to eight season points on four goals, a new team-high in goals scored this season.
• Chirico provided a different angle for the Beacons today. Typically a goal-scorer, today he serviced two of his teammates on separate occasions, to bring his season assist totals to three.
• Also nabbing assists were Erickson Potter (three goals, three assists this season), Gisholt, who leads the team in assists with five, and Arruda for his second assist of the season.

Who's Next:

• With the Beacons winning five of their last nine undefeated games, they will look to hit peak form heading into the postseason. Before that, the UMass Boston men's soccer team will head into this weekend's matchup on Saturday, October 19, from Danbury CT, as they take on LEC rivals, the Wolves of Western Connecticut. For live stats and video coverage, stay tuned at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com).