Box Score Box Score (PDF)Â HIGHLIGHTS
LOWELL, Mass. – Augusto Trento (Leominster, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal in the 77th minute to lead the UMass Lowell men's soccer to its first America East victory of the season, 1-0 against the University of Albany Great Danes.
Carlos Ruiz (East Boston, Mass.) sent in a free kick and Trento headed in the ball off the keeper's hands and in. A Great Dane defender tried to clear it off the line, but the assistant referee ruled the whole ball crossed over the line for a goal.
The River Hawks (4-8-0, 1-1-0) earned their first America East victory of the year, and their second home in a row. Head Coach
Christian Figueroa was pleased with his team's effort despite the sloppy field conditions.
"It's very good, Albany is a tough team coming off a good result last week, you know they are a team that can pull out results in the conference. I think to get a win early one after a tough result for us last week is promising."
The best chance for either came in the first half came in the 25th, when
Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) received a pass from Ruiz and fired a shot off the left post from 25 yards out.
Albany's (3-5-5, 1-1-0) Dominic McGarr sent a header wide in the final minute off a corner kick. The River Hawks held a 3-1 corner kick advantage at the half. Neither team registered a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes.
Austin Kroll's first save of the game came in the 47th minute on a shot from Afonso Pinheiro.
Wuilito Fernandes registered the first River Hawk shot on goal in the 54th minute, but Tim Allen was there for the save.
Kroll made another crucial save in the 61st minute with a diving stop on Pedro Espindola's skipping shot from 25 yards out. A rebound attempt was blown dead on an offside's call.
Fernandes had a beautiful header 72nd minute but Allen make a leaping save before the ball could sneak under the crossbar.
The River Hawks outshot Albany 13-6. Kroll recorded two saves in his third shutout of the season, while Allen made four stops.
UMass Lowell returns to action on October 15 when Cushing Field hosts the University of Vermont.Â