University of Massachusets Athletics

Five Minutemen Find Net in Dominating 7-1 Victory Over Riverhawks
September 11, 2024 | Men's Soccer
Alec Hughes hat tricks to become second All-Time goal scorer in program history
AMHERST, Mass. – The Minutemen (2-1-2) kicked off the 2024-25 edition of the Kennedy Cup Challenge in dominant fashion, besting the Riverhawks (4-1-2) in a 7-1 for the team's first win of the season at Rudd Field.
Five different UMass players found net in today's contest, marking the program's highest-scoring game since 2001. Alec Hughes continued to feast in the scoring column, earning a hat trick on the evening. Hughes now stands second in among All-Time goal scorers in program history, trailing only Jeff Deren '03 (48).
Breaking Down the Action
Up Next
UMass completes its two-game home stand on Saturday, Sep. 14 in a matchup against Brown University. Action is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. at Rudd Field, with action streaming live on ESPN+.
Five different UMass players found net in today's contest, marking the program's highest-scoring game since 2001. Alec Hughes continued to feast in the scoring column, earning a hat trick on the evening. Hughes now stands second in among All-Time goal scorers in program history, trailing only Jeff Deren '03 (48).
Breaking Down the Action
- The Minutemen found the net early in the sixth minute, with Aidan Kelly heading in his first of the season from a corner setup from Matt Cence.
- Not even four minutes passed before UMass doubled its lead as Shane Velez followed a scoring effort from Cence to find the back of the net.
- Hughes notched his first score of the day in the 15th minute of action, heading in a setup from Kelly to the right side of the net.
- Hughes would earn brace via penalty kick in the 36th minute, sending a laser into the left side of the goal as the Minutemen tallied four unanswered goals.
- The Riverhawks would respond with a penalty kick of their own in the 43rd minute as Jonathan Ferreira converted to score UMass Lowell's lone goal of the match.
- After a scoreless 24 minutes to start the first half, Layton Purchase netted his first goal in the Maroon and White to extend the lead to four.
- Hughes sealed his hat trick in the 70th minute, chipping the goalkeeper on a solo run downfield.
- Aaron O'Malley launched a rocket from distance in the 81st minute, scorching the top-left shelf to take a commanding 7-1 lead into the final horn.
Up Next
UMass completes its two-game home stand on Saturday, Sep. 14 in a matchup against Brown University. Action is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. at Rudd Field, with action streaming live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Lowell
UMass
Goals
1
7
Shots
20
20
Shots on Goal
8
13
Saves
6
7
Corners
7
9
Fouls
15
18
Scoring Plays

Aidan Kelly (1)
Assisted By: Matt Cence
GOAL by UMass Kelly, Aidan Assist by Cence, Matt.
05:09

Shane Velez (2)
GOAL by UMass Velez, Shane.
09:07

Alec Hughes (5)
Assisted By: Aidan Kelly
GOAL by UMass Hughes, Alec Assist by Kelly, Aidan.
14:07

Alec Hughes (5)
UMass Alec Hughes PENALTY KICK GOAL.
35:01

Jonathan Ferreira
Lowell Jonathan Ferreira PENALTY KICK GOAL.
42:23

Layton Purchase (1)
GOAL by UMass Purchase, Layton.
68:58

Alec Hughes (5)
GOAL by UMass Hughes, Alec.
69:12

Aaron O'Malley (1)
GOAL by UMass O'Malley, Aaron.
80:40
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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