WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Senior back Emmanuel Caicedo (Manchester) scored his  first goal since the fifth game of his four-year career and sophomore keeper Ryan Murphy (Cromwell) posted his eighth shutout in 25 career starts as the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team trimmed the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 1-0, in the Little East Conference opener for both programs Saturday at Thomas Nevers Field.

Having lost to UMass (4-2-0) by scores of 1-0 in each of the last two meetings, Eastern (2-3-1) remained unbeaten (2-0-1) this year at home, where it has allowed only one goal. UMass, which had averaged nearly four goals a match through its first five matches, was shut out for the first time this year.

UMass senior keeper Luis Carranza had shut out Eastern in each of his two previous starts against the Warriors and the hosts finally ended a scoreless streak of 208 minutes and 38 seconds against the four-year keeper when Caicedo knocked a serve from junior midfielder JD Stearns (Bolton) into the lower left corner of the net with under nine minutes left.

The teams combined for 11 shots in a scoreless first half but only one attempt reached goal. The Corsairs couldn't not cash in on any of their 14 corner kicks, nine of them coming in the first half.

UMass scoring leader Matt Vidal has six goals this year but was limited to two shots Saturday, neither of which reached Murphy, with junior midfielder Haden Cordeiro and senior forward Stephan Teixeira  combining for seven of the Corsairs' 12 shots.

Prior to Caicedo's tie-breaking goal, Vidal's had a blast carom off the right post and cleared by Eastern. After the game's only goal, Cordeiro and sophomore midfielder John Correira each nearly tied the match. Cordeira hit the top of the post and bounced out of bounds and Correia's crossing shot was hauled down by Murphy.

Eastern hosts Gordon College Tuesday at 4 p.m.