Box Score WEST HARTFORD (Nov. 6, 2013) – The University of Hartford scored three unanswered goals in the second half to defeat UMass Lowell, 5-2, Wednesday night in an America East Conference men's soccer match at Al-Marzook Field.
With the loss, UMass Lowell wraps its inaugural Division I season with a 3-14-1 overall record and a 1-5-1 clip in America East.
Hartford, which extended its unbeaten streak to five matches, improved to 12-3-3 and 4-2-1 in the Conference and enters the America East Tournament this weekend.
"I think we're going to see improvement going forward and we'll be able to compete (in America East)," said Head Coach
Christian Figueroa, whose squad returns 19 players for 2014. "We're going to close those gaps very quickly. We're thankful for the seniors who have helped us close this gap over the last four years."
UMass Lowell twice battled back from a goal down in the first half en route to a 2-2 draw at the interval. Hartford, however, scored in the 54
th minute and added two more four minutes apart in the 70
th and 74
th minutes.
Freshman F Jeff Tryon scored three goals, the first in the 14
th minute. Junior F
Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) leveled for UMass Lowell in the 24
th minute – his team-high eighth goal of the season – when he volleyed a cross from senior M
Kyle Garvan (Braintree, Mass.) from 15 yards out with the help of a deflection off a defender.
Tryon added his second in the 32
nd minute when his header off a cross from junior B Rohan Roye agonizingly trickled in. Still, UMass Lowell battled back and freshman M
Wuilito Fernandes (Praia, Cape Verde) drove 20 yards inside the Hartford half and ripped left-footed from 21 yards inside the right post.
Hartford scored the game-winner in the 54
th minute when senior F David Bernhardsson struck from 15 yards out, which deflected in off a UMass Lowell player. Junior F Omar Tall added a fourth goal in the 70
th minute, converting a cross from senior M Jon Gil.
Tryon capped the scoring four minutes later when he headed home from a cross by sophomore B Blake Jones.
UMass Lowell had an 18-17 edge on overall shots while Hartford had a 10-8 advantage on frame. Senior GK
Chris Maierle (Wantagh, N.Y.) stopped four shots while David MacKinnon had six saves.