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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
5-4-3, 2-2-0
St. Bonaventure
4-5-2, 1-3-0
UMass Routs St. Bonaventure, 5-2
October 04, 2023 | Men's Soccer
Nick Zielonka and Alec Hughes both record braces to lead Minutemen
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y.- The University of Massachusetts men's soccer team topped St. Bonaventure 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon in Western New York. The Minutemen's five-goal performance, led by a pair of braces from Alec Hughes and Nick Zielonka, was the most goals UMass has scored since 2019 (6-0 over CCSU). The Minutemen improve to 5-4-3 while the Bonnies drop to 4-5-2.
After UMass seemed to control possession for the first ten minutes of the match, the Bonnies got on the board first as Kenzo Brito scored on the counterattack in the 12th minute.
Later in the half, Hughes drew a foul just outside the 18. Nick Zielonka stepped up and placed a shot in the bottom left corner to knot the game in the 32nd minute.
The Bonnies continued to press the cage in the first half when Daniel Helle tried chipping the ball over Matt Zambetti in the 40th minute. Zambetti denied Helle for his first save and kept the game tied.
Early in the second half, both teams had golden opportunities to take the lead. In the 47th minute, a St. Bonaventure cross got through the UMass defense. However, St. Bonaventure forward Umechi Akuazaoku couldn't capitalize. Two minutes later, Zielonka sent a ball to Hughes whose shot was saved by Bonnies goalkeeper Jules Dechert.
In the 60th minute, Hughes again had a chance to put the minutemen up. His left-footed shot rung off the woodwork and the game remained tied at 1-1.
The Minutemen broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute after Michael Rojas was taken down inside the box. Hughes then netted the penalty kick to give UMass a 2-1 advantage on his conference-leading tenth goal of the season.
In the 70th minute, Mike Willis drew another penalty inside the box for UMass. This time it was Zielonka that took the PK and buried it to push the lead to 3-1 and complete his first career brace.
The Bonnies had a chance to get one back in the 77th minute as Daniel Helle was one-on-one with Zambetti, who turned his shot aside for one of his three saves.
Hughes completed his brace In the 80th minute after Shane Velez found him cutting up the pitch for the second game in a row. The goal put Hughes into 7th all-time in career goals, passing Dave Siljanovski (1993-96) with 31 tallies.
Mike Willis rounded out the scoring for the evening when he netted his first goal of the season in the 89th minute. Aaron O'Malley picked up his first collegiate point with the assist.
UMass outshot the Bonnies 18-11 (9-5 SOG) and held the advantage in corner kicks, 7-4.
The Minutemen are back on the road this Saturday when they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks for a 5 p.m. kickoff. UMass returns home for a 1 p.m. matchup with Fordham on Saturday, October 14th.
Team Stats
Kenzo Brito (4)
Assisted By: Rafael Pereira
GOAL by SBU Brito, Kenzo Assist by Pereira, Rafael.
11:29
Nick Zielonka (2)
GOAL by MASS Zielonka, Nick.
31:39
Alec Hughes (10)
MASS Alec Hughes PENALTY KICK GOAL.
62:04
Nick Zielonka (2)
MASS Nick Zielonka PENALTY KICK GOAL.
69:38
Alec Hughes (10)
Assisted By: Shane Velez
GOAL by MASS Hughes, Alec Assist by Velez, Shane.
79:44
Mike Willis (1)
Assisted By: Aaron O'Malley
GOAL by MASS Willis, Mike Assist by O'Malley, Aaron.
88:14
Luc Finelli (1)
Assisted By: Daniel Helle
GOAL by SBU Finelli, Luc Assist by Helle, Daniel.
88:59
