MANSFIELD, CONN. (November 2, 2024) – The UMass Boston men's soccer team concluded the 2024 Little East Conference Regular Season with 20 points and the LEC two-seed following a 1-0 victory over the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University from Mansfield, Connecticut, on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics:
UMass Boston 1 – 0 ECSU
UMass Boston: 10-1-5 (6-0-2 LEC)
ECSU 4-8-4 (2-5-1 LEC)

How it Happened:

• Following nine shots (five on target) throughout the first 45 minutes of play, the Beacons entered the halftime break knotted even at a 0-0 stalemate. Both teams knocked but were contested by stellar goalkeeping on each end of the pitch.
•  Senior wing-back Logan Erickson Potter (Swansea, Mass.) received possession from the left-back position just inside the Warrior's half. His splitting pass found sophomore striker John Arruda (Espirito Santo, Bra.) came towards it to receive. His first touch sent it perfectly out of reach from a diving Warriors defender as he kept the dribble alive with another defender on his back and an extra for good measure. Despite the pressure, Arruda drove from the left midfield towards the middle of the box and lasered in a skipping shot across the goal to beat the diving Nathan Yeich.
• Arruda's goal would mark the only of the game, as the Beacons relieved any pressure applied by the Warriors to end the game.

By the Numbers:

• ECSU took the offensive edge with 20 shots (nine on target) against the Beacons' 16 (seven on target). Graduate goalkeeper Andy Ramirez (Waltham, Mass.) recorded nine saves en route to his fourth clean sheet of the season and the Beacon's seventh consecutive shutout. He is now 9-0-3 this season as one of the conference's best between the posts. UMass Boston and ECSU were equal, with five fouls and seven corner kicks each. Arruda's goal is his third goal of the season and arguably the timeliest in a game when the Beacons needed it most. Erickson Potter provided his sixth assist of the season. In seven of his previous eight, Erickson Potter has scored or assisted on at least one goal. Offensive opportunities were abundant in today's game, as five Beacons attributed three shots each. First-year forward Eduardo Chirico (Minas Gerais, Bra.), sophomore Patrick Garcia (Brookline, Mass.) and Rafael Gross (Minas Gerais, Bra.), and senior Diego Gisholt (Tijuana, Mex.) each rifled in three shots. All it took was one beauty from Arruda, and the Beacs finish with the LEC two-seed.

Who's Next:

• With the Beacons securing the two-seed, the Beacons will have a round-one bye, and will face the winner of No.6 Rhode Island College, and No.3 Vermont State University Castleton on Thursday, November 7 from the UMass Boston campus at a time to be determined. Live stats and video coverage will be available at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website.