Beacons ground Seahawks in season-opener

BOSTON, Mass. - UMass Boston men's soccer scored a goal in each half and limited Salve Regina University to just two shots on goal in a 2021 season-opening 2-0 victory on Wednesday night at James Cotter Field. 
 
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 2, Salve Regina 0
(UMass Boston 1-0)
(Salve Regina 0-1) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Senior Nilton de Andrade (Fogo, Cape Verde) picked up right where he left off during an All-American 2019 campaign. The midfielder scored in the first half and picked up an assist on the Beacons' second tally. 
 
Junior Mauricio Martinez (Revere, Mass.) scored a goal in his first match since 2018. Senior back Yuran Teixeira (Praia, Cape Verde) also recorded an assist on Martinez's goal. 
 
In net, freshman goalie JJ Devine (Halifax, Mass.) picked up a shutout and a victory in his first collegiate appearance. The freshman keeper made two saves, including one huge save early in the second half. 
 
Salve Regina freshman goalie Charlie Zwierzchowski made two saves on four shots in his first collegiate appearance. 
 
De Andrade opened the scoring in the 19th minute. The senior midfielder bodied a Salve player off the ball and then ripped a shot from outside the box into the lower right corner. 
 
The Beacons doubled their advantage just after the break. Teixeira dribbled through multiple defenders and then slipped a pass to De Andrade on the wing. De Andrade took two touches, before cutting back a pass for Martinez who guided the ball into the net with his first touch. 
 
Less than three minutes later, Devine was called upon to make his best save of the night. Nathan Constantino received the ball in space at the top of the box and ripped a low shot to Devine's right and the 6-3 keeper dove down and knocked the ball away with his right hand. 
 
The Beacons back line of Emelson Barbosa (Dorchester, Mass.), Estevao Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) and Teixeira held the Seahawks offense in check from there. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Salve Regina outshot the Beacons 9-8, but the Beacons held a 4-2 edge in shots on goal. The Seahawks earned a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. 
• De Andrade led the Beacons with three shots and tied Martinez with a team-high two shots on goal. 
• UMass Boston improved to 4-0 all-time against Salve Regina with the win. The Beacons have outscored the Seahawks 11-1 in those four contests. 
• Nine different Beacons made their UMass Boston debut in the contest. Freshmen Diego Gisholt (Newton, Mass.), Luis Spinola (Brockton, Mass.) and Devine each made their collegiate debuts in the victory. 

WHO'S NEXT 
 
UMass Boston will be right back in action on Saturday, when they host Springfield College at 2 p.m. Salve Regina travels to Anna Maria on Saturday before the Seahawks host Johnson & Wales on Sunday at Toppa Field.