Box Score Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – Austin Kimball's (Exeter, N.H.) last-second goal to close out the first half sent the UMass Lowell men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Binghamton in front of a intense homecoming crowd.

"I thought the boys played well, I don't think they were as particularly good as they have been the last couple of weeks. Binghamton came out with a good game plan, they put on a lot of pressure to make things a little more difficult for us and I thought the boys responded to it well. We really showed for the first time all year the ability to grind out a result," remarked Head Coach Christian Figueroa after the game. 

The River Hawks' (7-8-1, 3-1-1) first corner of the game, coming with 11 seconds until halftime, ended up being the biggest play of the game. Guilherme Rodrigues (Lowell, Mass.) took the kick and sent it to Fernandes standing outside the six who headed it back towards the net. Kimball and Moewes converged on the ball, and Kimball got the last touch with his head, giving the home team the 2-1 lead with one second left on the clock.

The Bearcats (4-11-0, 2-2-0) applied the early pressure, hitting the crossbar in the first six minutes of the game. Tommy Moon rocked the frame just 3:02 into the game, and the rebound was sent high. In the sixth minute, Alex Varkatzas hit the crossbar and almost crossed the line on the way down.

UMass Lowell used its strong defense to survive the Binghamton attack early on and create opportunities for the offense.  In the 11th minute, Wuilito Fernandes (Praia, Cape Verde) took possession of the ball and dribbled across the end line, at the last moment he sent the ball across the box to Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) who slotted the ball into the open net for the 1-0 lead. It was the senior forward's fourth goal of the season.

Fernandes almost doubled the lead in the 19th minute, but his one-on-one chance was denied by Robert Meowes. 

Two minutes later the Bearcats got on the board to tie the game at 1-1, when Steve Celeste's shot went into the far right corner to beat the keeper.

Binghamton almost took the lead in the 39th minute, off a steal by Celeste, but his breakaway opportunity was turned aside by Austin Kroll (Baltimore, Md.).

With the clock winding down towards the end of regulation, the Bearcats almost tied the game in the 85th minute when Tucker Sandercock sent a shot that went just wide of the post, and Bret Celeste just missed tapping it home.

Figueroa was grateful for the turnout for River Hawk Homecoming weekend.

"It's fun, it's great. If anything else I'm excited for the team and get out there and be able to play in front of friends, alumni,  and family. To go out there and get the result for them makes it that much more special."

UMass Lowell has a five game unbeaten streak, and has won three straight for the first time all season.

The River Hawks are off until November 1, when they take on New Hampshire for the team's last road game of the season at 1 p.m.