Box Score

Senior F Bruno Bonicontro (Marlboro, Mass.) scored two goals and sophomore F Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) added one – all in the first half – as UMass Lowell defeated American International College, 4-1, Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer clash at Cushing Field.

With the victory, UMass Lowell improved to 5-0-1 overall and 4-0-0 in the Conference entering Friday's match at New Haven (4:00). UMass Lowell also continued its best start to a season since 2000 when the River Hawks went 6-0-1 in their first seven matches.

AIC slipped to 2-5-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the NE-10 and host Merrimack Sunday at 1:00.

The River Hawks capitalized on two set pieces, and Bonicontro was the beneficiary of the first. In theeighth minute, junior B Alex Sindoni (Haverhill, Mass.) flicked a throw-in off his head from junior Kyle Garvan (Braintree, Mass.) to the far post, where Bonicontro clinically headed home.

In the 20^th minute, Morais fed Bonicontro a through-ball up the left channel, which Bonicontro slotted past AIC goalkeeper Jason Ryan for his third goal in two matches.

UMass Lowell made the most of another Garvan throw-in in the 26^th minute, when junior Daniel Galvin (Attleboro, Mass.) flicked off his head to Morais, who turned and lashed a left-footed strike which found the netting inside the left post.

The goal was the fourth in three matches for Morais, who was named the NE-10 Player of the Week Monday.

AIC pulled one back against the run of play in the 79^th minute when junior F Ike Ekwueme ran on to a through-ball from senior M Conor Doyle down the left side and slotted past junior GK Chris Maierle (Wantagh, N.Y.).

Senior M Ryan McLeod (Haverhill, Mass.) capped the scoring with his first of the year in the 90^th minute. McLeod weaved his way past two defenders into space at the top of the box and finished with emphasis inside the left post.

UMass Lowell outshot the Yellow Jackets 14-8 overall and 6-4 on frame. Maierle had three saves while Ryan had one save.