Box Score

UMass Lowell scored two goals roughly a minute apart in the first half and never looked back en route to a 2-0 victory over the University of Bridgeport Saturday afternoon in a non-conference men's soccer clash at Cushing Field.

With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 2-0-1 and hosts No. 3 Franklin Pierce Tuesday at 7:00. Bridgeport slipped to 0-4-0 and visits Bentley Tuesday at 3:30.

UMass Lowell enjoyed possession for much of match and took a 1-0 lead in the 25^th minute on a bit of bad luck on Bridgeport's behalf. Senior F Bruno Bonicontro (Marlboro, Mass.) launched an inswinging corner kick from the right side which deflected in the goal off a Purple Knight defender.

The River Hawks capitalized on the momentum and doubled their lead 62 seconds later. Junior M Kevin Zapata (East Bridgewater, Mass.) crossed to sophomore M Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.), who flicked to Bonicontro, who settled and finished nicely off the bottom of the crossbar.

UMass Lowell nearly went 3-0 ahead in the final minutes of the half. Sophomore Eric DeSantis (Woburn, Mass.) broke free on the right side of the box, but shot right at UB goalkeeper Augustin Prados (Madrid, Spain).

Prados was at his best a minute later as sophomore B Felipe Fagundes (Lowell, Mass.) took a playback and roped inside the left post, denied only by Prados' acrobatic glove out of play.

Junior GK Chris Maierle (Wantagh, N.Y.) was only called upon twice, the first attempt in the 17^th minute when junior M Andreas Blanke (Gothenberg, Sweden) found space deep on the right side of UMass Lowell's box. Maierle followed the build-up well and confidently thwarted his attempt.

UB nearly pulled one back in the 72^nd when sophomore F Juan Galarza (Danbury, Conn.) found space on the right side and uncorked a blast aimed for the far post, shooting just wide.

UMass Lowell outshot the Purple Knights 10-6 overall and 4-2 on target. Prados had two saves for UB.