Box Score NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Senior Fabio Araujo converted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute for the only goal as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth sent the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team to its first 0-2 start in Little East Conference play in 14 years Saturday afternoon at Cressy Field.
It marked the fifth time in the last six meetings that the teams have played to a 1-0 decision, with UMass Dartmouth (2-3-0, 2-0-0 LEC) winning for the fourth time. Eastern (4-4-0, 0-2-0) lost by a 1-0 score for the third time this year and for the eighth time in the past two seasons.
First-team All-LEC junior keeper Ryan Murphy (Cromwell), ranked either first or second in every statistical category, dropped to 4-4-0 on the season despite a 0.63 goals-against average and .881 save percentage. He made two saves, but Araujo's third goal of the season was the difference. As a freshman, Murphy won 14 matches with an identical 0.63 GAA.
Eastern outshot UMD, 15-11, and held an 11-6 advantage in corner kicks. Sophomore keeper Danny Andrade stopped five shots as the Corsairs won for the second time (in LEC play) after three opening non-conference losses.
Eastern looks to end a three-match losing streak when it hosts Salem State University in a non-conference match Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Thomas Nevers Field.
