Sept. 17, 2008

LOWELL, MA – Senior M Jamie Wangia (Lowell, MA) scored a goal and junior G Ryan Richards (Holden, MA) collected his second straight clean sheet as UMass Lowell defeated American International College, 2-0, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer clash at Cushing Field. The victory extended UMass Lowell’s unbeaten string to four matches as the River Hawks improved to 3-1-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the Conference entering Saturday’s match at Le Moyne (1:00). AIC slipped to 1-5-1 overall and 0-2-1 in the NE-10. The Yellow Jackets visit Merrimack Saturday at 1:00. Following a scoreless first half, the River Hawks were the beneficiary of a Yellow Jacket own goal in the 67th minute. Freshman M Diego Tabares (Seekonk, MA) sent a cross from the right side into the box which an AIC defender inadvertently headed into his own net, attempting to clear. Wangia scored the backbreaking goal in the 79th off a free kick, the result of a foul on junior M Jeffery Danso (Worcester, MA) just outside the right corner of the 18-yard box. Junior M Jhony Valencia (Lowell, MA) curled a left-footed pass into the box which Wangia headed past AIC goalkeeper Jon Thorpe (East Longmeadow, MA). Both teams had chances in the first half to break the drought. Richards was tested in the 13th minute when he tipped a header by freshman D Matias Mononen (Joensuu, Finland) over the bar. Wangia nearly capitalized in the 40th minute when his left-footed volley inside the six-yard box from the right side was denied by Thorpe. In the opening minutes of the second half, the River Hawks caught Thorpe out of position, but attempts by senior forwards Matt Dubois (Dracut, MA) and Matias Pietropinto (Leominster, MA) were blocked by the AIC defense. The River Hawks outshot AIC, 10-3 overall and 5-1 on target. Richards turned away one attempt while Thorpe had two saves.

UMass Lowell 2, American International 0
At Lowell, MA

Goalkeepers
Ryan Richards (UML): 1 save, 90:00
Jon Thorpe (AIC): 2 saves, 90:00