Beacons carve path to 2-1 win against Seahawks

BOSTON, Mass. - The UMass Boston Beacons scored twice in the first nine minutes of the second half and held on to defeat Salve Regina University men's soccer, 2-1, at Monan Park in non-league action on Friday afternoon. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UMass Boston 2, Salve Regina 1
Records: Salve Regina (0-1-0), UMass Boston (1-0-0)
All-Time Series: Salve Regina has one win in eight meetings (0-7-1) after ending a six-game skid with a 1-1 draw in Newport, Rhode Island last season

SUMMARY:

• 48:01 - The first opportunity for UMass Boston to take the lead in the second half came with just under three minutes run off the clock. Gabriel Meireles' attempt off of a corner kick was saved, but the ball found its way to Ryan Lima who twisted his body in mid-air to convert a bicycle kick goal. | UMass Boston 1, Salve Regina 0
• 53:11 - Just over five minutes after Lima opened the scoring, Meireles made good on his second shot of the half, sending a powerful boot past the Salve Regina goalkeeper for a score. Meireles' first career goal gave Rafael Gross his first career assist and extended the UMass Boston lead to 2-0. | UMass Boston 2, Salve Regina 0
• 89:58 - After surviving the first half without a test, goalkeeper JJ Devine made several key saves in the second half to preserve his shutout, including two attempts in rapid succession in the 77th minute. It appeared that Devine would finish the match with a clean sheet until a UMass Boston handball awarded a free kick to Salve Regina with just two seconds left to play. Jordan Borges converted the PK for the Seahawks. | UMass Boston 2, Salve Regina 1

NOTEWORTHY:

• A contentious first half saw no goals for either team but both the Seahawks and the Beacons earned a yellow card from the officials for their physical play.
• UMass Boston held the advantage in corner kick opportunities 11-9.
• Zach Rock went the full 90 minutes between the posts and posted two saves.

ON THE HORIZON:
The Seahawks host the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University at Toppa Field on Sunday, September 3 at 4 p.m.