University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Xavier
Amick, Brandso Lead MSOC Past Xavier, 2-0
October 08, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 8, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - First half goals from Stuart Amick and Morgan Bransdo combined with a strong second half defensive effort game the UMass men's soccer team a 2-0 win over Xavier on Friday at Rudd Field in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both sides. The Minutemen will return to action on Sunday at Noon as they host Dayton at Rudd Field. Admission is free to all.
UMass improves to 2-3-5 overall and 1-0-0 in the Atlantic 10, while Xavier falls to 3-3-3 overall and 0-1-0 in the league. Friday's win was the first shutout for the Minutemen since a 0-0 draw at Fairfield on Sept. 11 and the first in five games to not reach overtime. It also snapped a five-game unbeaten streak for the Musketeers.
Amick put the Minutemen up 1-0 in the 19th minute of play after receiving a Chris Roswess cross from the right flank. The goal was his third of the season and second in as many games. Roswess dribbled through traffic towards the goal line before sending a low cross to the back left post where Amick slid to place a shot inside the left post.
Brandso gave UMass a 2-0 lead thanks to his first career goal scored in the 38th minute. Bryant Craft played a high cross from near the right corner flag that found a charging Brandso on the back-left post. The sophomore headed the ball towards the top right corner and the shot looked initially like it was saved by Xavier keeper Justin Marshall, but the linesman ruled that the ball had crossed the plane of the goal line after deflecting off the inside of the left post.
Xavier came out aggressively in the second half taking eight shots and earning six corners within the first 16 minutes of the period. The Musketeer pressure continued for the remainder of regulation as Xavier ended up outshooting the Minutemen 14-to-1 for the second half and earning 8 corners to none for UMass.
Piekos stood strong in goal making six saves for the game including 5 in the second half.
Justin Marshall finished the game making one save for Xavier.
The Musketeers finished the game with a 16-to-8 advantage in shots and a 8-to-1 advantage in corners - the bulk of both coming in the second half.
