.png&type=webp){kind=icon}
University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, October 18
Amherst, Mass.
3 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
vs
Rhode Island
Men’s Soccer Hosts Rhode Island Wednesday In Match Of A-10 Leaders
October 17, 2017 | Men's Soccer
UMass and Rhode Island enter the contest tied for the lead in the Altantic 10 as the Minutemen enter the contest on an eight-match unbeaten streak
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts men's soccer team will play host to Rhode Island on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Rudd Field in a matchup between two teams tied for first-place in the Atlantic 10 this season. The Minutemen enter the match on an eight-match unbeaten streak and with a perfect 8-0-1 record at Rudd Field. Admission to Wednesday's contest is free.
UMass (9-2-3 Overall, 3-0-1 A-10) have outscored their opponents 21-4 on the season at Rudd Field and have picked up consecutive shutout wins with a 5-0 win over Duquesne and a 2-0 win over La Salle on Saturday. The Minutemen own a 16-5-5 record over their last 26 matches dating back to a road overtime win against Hartford on Sept. 24, 2016.
Samuel Asamoah opened up the scoring for the Minutemen against the Explorers late in the first half, using the side of his foot to beat the keeper on a pass from Brandon Merklin for his third goal of the season in the 43rd-minute to put UMass ahead 1-0. Jack Fulton put the game away with his second goal in as many games in the 84th-minute, chipping a shot over the La Salle goalkeeper off a pass from Davis Smith.
Smith leads UMass in goals and points this season with seven and 18, respectively, while Alex DeSantis has added five goals and four assists for 14 points. Bardia Asefnia anchors the Minutemen defense with 41 saves on the year while allowing just 0.83 goals per contest in 1307:41 minutes in net, ranking 16th-nationally in the category.
The win over La Salle secured the first winning-season for the Minutemen since the 2008 team posted a 10-8-3 record on their way to a regular season Atlantic 10 title and a berth in the NCAA First Round. The Minutemen also continued their unbeaten-streak, moving past the 2010 team's seven-match unbeaten streak for the most games without a loss since the 2008 squad put together nine matches of unbeaten play with seven wins during the span.
UMass and Rhode Island (8-2-3 Overall, 3-0-1 A-10) split their last two meetings with both teams picking up wins on their home field with the Rams winning last year 2-1 after the Minutemen protected home field in 2015 with a 3-2 win. Rhode Island owns a 35-22-4 all-time record against UMass with the first meeting between the two squads being played in 1961.
The Minutemen will hit the road for two of their final three games after the Wednesday contest, beginning with a match at Dayton on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. UMass will wrap up the regular season on home against Fordham on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
For complete coverage of the UMass men's soccer team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassMSoccer and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
UMass (9-2-3 Overall, 3-0-1 A-10) have outscored their opponents 21-4 on the season at Rudd Field and have picked up consecutive shutout wins with a 5-0 win over Duquesne and a 2-0 win over La Salle on Saturday. The Minutemen own a 16-5-5 record over their last 26 matches dating back to a road overtime win against Hartford on Sept. 24, 2016.
Samuel Asamoah opened up the scoring for the Minutemen against the Explorers late in the first half, using the side of his foot to beat the keeper on a pass from Brandon Merklin for his third goal of the season in the 43rd-minute to put UMass ahead 1-0. Jack Fulton put the game away with his second goal in as many games in the 84th-minute, chipping a shot over the La Salle goalkeeper off a pass from Davis Smith.
Smith leads UMass in goals and points this season with seven and 18, respectively, while Alex DeSantis has added five goals and four assists for 14 points. Bardia Asefnia anchors the Minutemen defense with 41 saves on the year while allowing just 0.83 goals per contest in 1307:41 minutes in net, ranking 16th-nationally in the category.
The win over La Salle secured the first winning-season for the Minutemen since the 2008 team posted a 10-8-3 record on their way to a regular season Atlantic 10 title and a berth in the NCAA First Round. The Minutemen also continued their unbeaten-streak, moving past the 2010 team's seven-match unbeaten streak for the most games without a loss since the 2008 squad put together nine matches of unbeaten play with seven wins during the span.
UMass and Rhode Island (8-2-3 Overall, 3-0-1 A-10) split their last two meetings with both teams picking up wins on their home field with the Rams winning last year 2-1 after the Minutemen protected home field in 2015 with a 3-2 win. Rhode Island owns a 35-22-4 all-time record against UMass with the first meeting between the two squads being played in 1961.
The Minutemen will hit the road for two of their final three games after the Wednesday contest, beginning with a match at Dayton on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. UMass will wrap up the regular season on home against Fordham on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
For complete coverage of the UMass men's soccer team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassMSoccer and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's SoccerUMass MSOC | Broadcast Highlights vs. Stonehill | 09.01.25
Tuesday, September 02
UMass MSOC | Broadcast Highlights vs. Quinnipiac | 08.28.25
Friday, August 29
UMass Men's Soccer | Highlights vs. Quinnipiac | 25.08.28
Friday, August 29
UMass Men's Soccer | Highlights vs. Siena | 08.21.25
Friday, August 22