Bridgeport Men's Soccer Opens 2017 ECC Slate With 2-0 Home Win Over NYIT

Bridgeport, Conn.-the University of Bridgeport men's soccer team opened its 2017 East Coast Conference schedule in fine style on Thursday night with a 2-0 blanking of the visiting NYIT Bears.  With the win, Bridgeport is now 2-3-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the ECC.  NYIT is now 3-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play.  The victory snaps a three-match losing streak for the Purple Knights.

Bridgeport scored just 55 seconds into action when sophomore Nikolai Vadseth (Langevaag, Norway) poked home a cross from freshman Jovante Etienne (Ajax, Ontario Canada), as the ball slipped past NYIT keeper Jonathan Rico and just crossed the goal line.

The match would stay at a 1-0 advantage for the host team into halftime when a lightening delay of 1:15 took place.

The Purple Knights added an insurance marker at the 53:54 mark of play when Etienne beat the NYIT goalie with a hard, low shot off a beautiful assist from junior Goncalo Mendes (Vila do Conde, Portugal).  Jovante now has two goals so far in 2017 and leads the team with a total of six points so far this season.

UB junior goalkeeper Juan Munoz (Bogota, Colombia) came up big in net for the winners earning his first solo clean sheet and first solo victory of his career in Purple and White.  Munoz made seven saves on the night, as NYIT outshot Bridgeport, 17-11 over the 90 minutes.

Up next, the UB men's soccer team will look to start a winning streak when they continue East Coast Conference play on Saturday evening with a home match against Roberts Wesleyan College.  Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. at Knights Field.