Oct. 28, 2011

Box Score | Figueroa: We know we can get back into it

Senior M Matheus Candido (Lowell, Mass.) and junior M Bruno Bonicontro (Marlborough, Mass.) combined for two goals four minutes apart in the final 10 minutes to lead UMass Lowell over Stonehill College, 3-2, Friday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer clash at Cushing Field.

With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 10-6-0 overall and finished 9-4-0 in the NE-10, clinching home field advantage in the first round of the NE-10 Tournament Tuesday (time and opponent to be announced). The River Hawks could slip into the No. 3 seed should Franklin Pierce defeat Le Moyne Saturday in Syracuse, N.Y.

The loss halted a three-match winning streak for Stonehill, which slipped to 10-8-0 and 7-6-0 in the Conference.

UMass Lowell gave up a pair of goals in the first 13 minutes and trailed 2-1 entering the 81st minute until Candido and Bonicontro combined for the leveler. On a counterattack, Bonicontro threaded a through-ball to Candido on a breakaway, which he slotted inside the right post.

UMass Lowell had the momentum and capitalized again in the 85th for the game-winner. Bonicontro broke free down the right side, beat a defender inside the box and cross to Candido, who settled and blasted inside the left post.

UMass Lowell had the first real chance in the 10th minute when senior B Asley Barrios (Revere, Mass.) steered a free kick to freshman F Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.), who freed himself well before heading over the bar.

Stonehill went 1-0 ahead on the next possession when the River Hawks failed to clear a free kick which went to junior B Jonathan Hope, who blasted from the top of the box with the help of a deflection.

The Skyhawks doubled their lead less than three minutes later when the River Hawks again failed to clear a free kick from junior M Anthony Campagnano. The ball went to senior F Mark Bolster, who tapped in just inside the six-yard box.

UMass Lowell regrouped, however, and struck back in the 19th minute when Barrios sent an inswinging corner kick from the left side, flicked by Morais, to sophomore M Kyle Garvan (Braintree, Mass.) who headed home.

Sophomore M Daniel Galvin (Attleboro, Mass.) nearly leveled in the 40th minute when he beat a defender in the Stonehill box, but shot right at freshman GK Adam Colella.

The River Hawks enjoyed the run of play in the second half, evidenced by a 9-3 edge on shots, but Stonehill nearly knotted the score right after the game-winner. Senior B Chris Agan headed a cross from the left side, but sophomore GK Connor Askins (Boston, Mass.) gloved the attempt over the bar.

UMass Lowell outshot Stonehill 18-6 overall and 8-4 on target, Askins had two saves for the River Hawks while Colella stopped five shots for the Skyhawks.