Oct. 19, 2011

Box Score

Junior M Ruben Resendes scored two goals in the second half to lead No. 14 Southern New Hampshire University over UMass Lowell, 3-1, Wednesday in a rain-soaked Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer clash at Cushing Field.

The loss halted a seven-match winning streak for the River Hawks, who slipped to 8-5-0 overall and 8-3-0 in the NE-10 entering Saturday's match at Southern Connecticut (1:00).

Southern New Hampshire improved to 12-2-0 overall (9-2-0 in the Conference) and visits New Haven Sunday at 1:00.

The Penmen took the lead against the run of play in the 29th minute when junior F Jordan Branco took possession on the right side of the box after a pair of quick opportunities in succession, one of which was cleared off the line by a River Hawk defender. Branco crossed to senior B Jayme Kapinos who headed home at the far post.

The goal came following several early chances for the River Hawks. In the second minute, a clever exchange between senior M Matheus Candido (Lowell, Mass.) and freshman F Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) resulted in a volley by Morais which soared wide right of the SNHU goal.

In the sixth minute, Candido pounced on a failed clearance deep in the SNHU box, but senior GK Joey Kapinos did well to glove it off the right post.

Morais nearly opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he grabbed a failed clearance on the left side of the box and slotted agonizingly wide right.

In the 52nd minute, UMass Lowell continued to pressure and nearly leveled. Sophomore B Alex Sindoni (Haverhill, Mass.) meandered deep into the SNHU box after a failed clearance and blasted home, but Kapinos was able to glove over the bar despite a deflection.

Resendes doubled SNHU's lead in the 57th when his free kick trickled in the goal through the wet grasp of sophomore GK Chris Maierle (Wantagh, N.Y.). He scored his second four minutes later when he took a cross from Branco on the left side, and tapped home unmarked in the center of the box.

The River Hawks pulled one back in the 63rd when Morais released junior M Bruno Bonicontro (Marlboro, Mass.) down the right flank, who slotted past Kapinos inside the far post.

Shots were even at 13-13 overall and 7-7 on frame. Kapinos had six saves for the Penmen while Maierle stopped three shots for UMass Lowell.