Box Score

Junior M Kevin Zapata (East Bridgewater, Mass.) bundled home a cross from junior F Majid Saeed (Woburn, Mass.) in the 96^th minute as No. 8 UMass Lowell defeated Le Moyne College, 3-2 in overtime Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer clash at Cushing Field.

With the victory, UMass Lowell improved to 8-0-1 overall and 7-0-0 in the NE-10 entering Wednesday's match at Saint Michael's (3:00). The River Hawks currently sit in first place in the NE-10 standings with 21 points ahead of Southern New Hampshire (12 points) which has two matches in hand.

Le Moyne slipped to 3-6-0 overall and 2-4-0 in the Conference and host Saint Rose Wednesday at 4:00.

Celebrating his 27^th birthday, UMass Lowell head coach Christian Figueroa received his first gift in the 18^th minute when senior M Bruno Bonicontro (Marlboro, Mass.) steered home a low, left-footed free kick from the top of the box into the low left pocket of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

The free kick was the result of a foul on Saeed, who was tripped while meandering into the box.

UMass Lowell doubled its lead in the 32^nd minute when sophomore F Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) dropped off for Saeed on the right side. Le Moyne junior GK Matthew Silva thwarted the first attempt, but Saeed took his own rebound and slotted inside the far post.

Le Moyne had a pair of opportunities in the first half, the first in the 15^th minute when junior M Zachary McNabb crossed to sophomore M Casey Murphy, but junior GK Chris Maierle (Wantagh, N.Y.) was well positioned for Murphy's header.

The Dolphins nearly capitalized on Murphy's takeaway in UMass Lowell's end in the 25^th minute. Murphy crossed to junior F Emannuel Chanelo whose shot went over the bar.

Le Moyne continued to threaten in the second half and it paid off in the 84^th minute. Murphy took a cross from senior M Vince Scaravillo and volleyed home from just inside the box.

The Dolphins kept their focus and snatched another goal in the 88^th to force extra time. Scaravillo took a feed from Chanelo deep on the right side of the box, and steered a shot inside the far post.

The River Hawks, however, avoided their first Conference blemish less than six minutes into overtime. Morais dropped off an exquisite pass for Saeed down the right side, who crossed to Zapata down the center of the box. Zapata beat his defender and slotted left-footed inside the far post.

UMass Lowell outshot Le Moyne 18-13 overall, but the Dolphins had an 8-7 edge on target. Maierle had six saves for UMass Lowell while Silva stopped four shots for Le Moyne.