Men's Soccer Falls to Vermont in Season-Opener, 2-0, Monday

The Central Connecticut men's soccer team was stopped by Vermont, 2-0, on Monday at CCSU Soccer Field in the CCSU season-opener. The Blue Devils had eight shots on the night, but were unable to tally a goal.

Just over three minutes into the game, the teams traded goal-scoring chances. The Blue Devils chance came when senior Daquan King played a cross that rolled through the box to freshman Andre Muriel Albino, but his shot at the far post was smothered by Aron Runarsson.

The Catamounts answered back with Brian Wright picking up a loose ball near midfield and dribbled into the box before putting his shot past Velleca at the right post to make it 1-0 just 3:17 into the game.

Central threatened to get on the board with just under 10 minutes left in the half. The Blue Devils attack built up and a flick from sophomore Louis Beddouri put junior Ryan Taylor behind the UVM defense, but his shot was deflected out of bounds for a corner kick.

The Blue Devils' first opportunity of the second half came just over a minute into the period when freshman David Bergstrom set up for a free kick from 25 yards out. His attempt got through traffic and had the UVM keeper off-balance, but it caught the post and deflected away.

Vermont doubled its lead just about 10 minutes into the second period. Wright picked up a loose ball and headed the ball ahead to break free before playing a low cross for Bernard Yeboah who tapped it into the net at the far post to make it 2-0.

UVM nearly added a goal with eight minutes to go. The keeper played a long ball ahead that bounced to Wright behind the CCSU defense, but junior Carson D'Ambrosio raced off his line to make the stop and clear the ball away. 

Senior Nick Velleca started and made one save in 69:57 of action before junior Carson D'Ambrosio came in for the final 20 minutes and made two saves. Central had eight shots in the game, including two on net, but Aron Runarsson made a pair of saves.

The Blue Devils return to action on Friday, Sept. 2, when they travel to Cornell for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff.