Sept. 4, 2010

Box Score

Senior F Linda Velaj scored the game-winning goal 3:54 into overtime to lead the No. 18 University of Bridgeport over UMass Lowell, 2-1, Saturday night in the second round of the American International College Women’s Soccer Classic.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 0-1-1 entering Tuesday’s Northeast-10 Conference opener at Bentley University (3:30). The Purple Knights improved to 1-1-0.

In the earlier match, the host Yellow Jackets defeated C.W. Post, 2-1 in overtime. UMass Lowell opened the scoring in the 20th minute when freshman M Sarah Raye (Salem, N.H.) hopped on a loose ball 20 yards out on the left side, dodged two defenders and lashed a low shot inside the right post.

“Bridgeport was a completely different team from when we saw them on Friday,” said Head Coach Elie Monteiro. “We expected them to respond after losing to AIC. Tonight they were more physical.

“We had some chances to put the ball away,” he added. “We were just lacking that lucky ball to make solid contact. We went into this weekend knowing it was going to be a touch couple of games. We wanted to get everyone up to speed with this level, especially the newcomers.”

The Purple Knights leveled in the 76th minute when freshman M Berglind Bjarnadottir did well to head in a corner kick from junior M Katie Stanley.

In overtime, Velaj took a long volley from the back and got between two defenders to softly loft over freshman GK Micaela Butlin (Milton, Mass.) for the winner. UMass Lowell outshot the Purple Knights 19-16 overall and 10-9 on target. Butlin stopped six shots while freshman Julia Hansson halted nine shots.

“The encouraging thing about this weekend was that every step of the way, no heads dropped,” Monteiro noted. “We fought hard. And we had the run of play for the most part. We just lacked a finishing touch.”