River Hawks End Losing Streak, Beat Sacred Heart 2-0

Saturday, September 27

Lowell, Mass.

4PM

University of Massachusetts Lowell

3-7-0

Sacred Heart University

0-8-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Sacred Heart	0	0	0
UMass Lowell	1	1	2

Photo by: Brian Fluharty

River Hawks End Losing Streak, Beat Sacred Heart 2-0

9/27/2014 6:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

LOWELL, Mass. – Guilherme Rodrigues (Lowell, Mass.) scored the decisive goal in the first half, and the UMass Lowell men's soccer team ended its five-game losing skid with a 2-0 win against Sacred Heart University.

In the 22nd minute, Carlos Ruiz (East Boston, Mass.) won a loose ball around midfield and sent a through ball to Rodrigues, sending him on a breakaway. Near the edge of the 18-yard box, two defenders closed in on the striker, and after a few steps into the box he sent a low shot into the bottom left corner.

The River Hawks (3-7-0) had two great scoring chances earlier in the half, in the 13th and 14th minutes respectively. Wuilito Fernandes (Praia, Cape Verde) made a move in the box to get around a defender and sent a shot past the Pioneer (0-8-1) keeper, but it glanced off the post. The rebound got out to Homero Morais (Somerville, Mass.) who was standing about 20 yards out and sent a rocket on target but Tucker Hackett made a leaping save.

Head Coach Christian Figueroa continues to be impressed as his young team grows throughout the season as the losing streak came to an end, and as they earned their first home win of the season.

"It's good, we agree that it's been a long time coming. We've had a couple close games, tight ones at home especially. We're still young and still growing, we're still trying to find our way. We had a couple young guys step up for us today, but again we have a long way to go."

Both teams had seven shots in the first 45 minutes, and Austin Kroll (Baltimore, Md.) shut the door making saves on all four shots that reached him.

During the second half both teams played to not make any more mistakes, but Sacred Heart almost fell behind 2-0 in the 64th minute. After a foul on the Pioneers Fernandes lined up to take a free kick from 25 yards out. The shot looked destined for the back of the net, but Hackett came up big for the visitors again; knocking the ball off the post.

UMass Lowell finally got the insurance goal the team needed off the foot of Bryan Amaris (West Haven, Conn.) in the 81st minute. Morais found Amaris streaking down the left wing towards the box and fed him a ball that sent the sophomore on a breakaway. The goalie came out to challenge and Amaris buried the shot into the bottom right corner.

Sacred Heart outshot the River Hawks 15-12, but Kroll shut the door with eight saves. The decision was Kroll's third collegiate win and second career shutout. Hackett made four saves for the visitors.

Rodrigues and Fernandes led the team with three shots and Mahmoud Kafel had a game-high four shots for the Pioneers.

The win gives UMass Lowell its third on the season, and even though last year's team did not have three until the end of October, Figueroa is more focused on the momentum going into conference play.

"It's big, not only because it's the third win, but because it's a win leading into conference play. I think that's more important for us, we just got to make sure we're on a high note."

The River Hawks will have a week off before opening their America East schedule on the road with a clash against the Retrievers of UMBC on October 4.