Sept. 10, 2011

Box Score

Junior F Jonathan Aristizabal scored with two minutes remaining in double overtime to lift the University of Bridgeport over UMass Lowell, 3-2, Saturday afternoon in a non-conference men's soccer match at Knights Field.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 1-2-0 overall entering Tuesday's match at Franklin Pierce (7:00). The River Hawks open at home next Saturday against Assumption (3:00).

Bridgeport improved to 2-1-0 and hosts Caldwell Thursday at 6:00.

UMass Lowell went two goals down midway through the second half, but freshman Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) gave the River Hawks a lifeline in the 79th minute and sophomore M Daniel Galvin (Attleboro, Mass.) scored in the 88th to force the extra sessions.

"We came alive toward the end," said head coach Christian Figueroa. "We were able to fight back late. It showed that our guys are not willing to give up."

Bridgeport opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when sophomore D Christopher Olesen converted off a free kick from sophomore Markus Naglestad.

Naglestad doubled the Purple Knights lead in the 68th when he took a pass from senior D Devon Thomas, created space and blasted home from the top of the box by sophomore G Connor Askins (Boston, Mass.).

"Bridgeport had a couple ball-winners on their team that made things difficult on restarts," said Figueroa. "I would've liked to see us play the full 90 minutes and not come out flat like we did. If we come out for the full 90 like we're capable of, that would solve some of our issues."

UMass Lowell did take advantage of a set piece in the 79th minute and it paid off. After a Bridgeport foul, senior D Asley Barrios (Revere, Mass.) steered a free kick to Morais, who secured his second goal in as many matches with a diving header.

Using the momentum, Morais went close twice more in the coming minutes before Galvin equalized. Junior D Collins Appau (Worcester, Mass.) sent a ball to the top left of the box to Galvin, whose left-footed shot beat UB goalkeeper Danny Hernandez to the near post to force extra time.

Aristizabal nearly won it in the 103rd, only to be denied by the post. He persisted though, and flicked in a cross by sophomore M Danny Ruiz six minutes later for the game-winner.

Bridgeport outshot UMass Lowell, 20-17 overall and 7-6 on target. Askins stopped four shots for UMass Lowell while Hernandez also had four saves.