Men's Soccer Visits No. 1 Ranked Franklin Pierce to Begin 2024 Season

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – With a busy preseason in the books, the University of Bridgeport's men's soccer team will make its 2024 debut on Thursday night (Sept. 5). The Purple Knights will visit top-ranked Franklin Pierce University to kick off the fall semester for UB Athletics.

SCOUTING THE RAVENS
Bridgeport's season-opener brings forth an exciting test. The Purple Knights will travel to the two-time defending NCAA national champions, Franklin Pierce, on Sept. 5. The Ravens have put up two consecutive undefeated seasons, bringing an unbeaten streak of 49 games into the new season.

Franklin Pierce hasn't lost a game at home since Oct. 23, 2018. UB vs. FPU will be live streamed at this LINK. 

THE REST OF THE SCHEDULE
Following the trip to New Hampshire, UB will play its home opener on Sunday night (Sept. 8). SCSU will visit Knights Field at 6 p.m. The Owls are one of four straight NE10 opponents to begin the new season and six overall for Bridgeport.

UB's conference opener will take place on Sept. 18 against Dominican. The Purple Knights have gone 15-5-3 in conference games over the last two seasons.

UB's final regular-season game will be a rematch of last year's CACC championship game on Nov. 7. The Purple Knights will visit Post University for a 1:30 p.m. start.

CACC PRESEASON POLL
UB was picked to finish second in the CACC according to the preseason coaches' poll that was released on Aug. 26. Post, which has won five straight conference titles, was ranked above Bridgeport with 11 first-place votes.

LAST SEASON
The Purple Knights went 10-7-3 last fall, finishing as the No. 3 seed in the CACC regular season standings. UB's campaign ultimately ended with a 3-1 loss to top-seeded Post in the conference championship game.

Prior to the CACC final, the Purple Knights recorded decisive wins over Caldwell (8-2) and Georgian Court (4-1) in the CACC quarterfinals and semifinals. UB has won at least 10 games in a season four times since 2018 (five completed seasons).

THE RETURNERS
Bridgeport's 2024 roster is composed of 18 returners from last year and a total of 27 upperclassmen. UB's top returning scorer from a year ago is Lucas Sousa, who finished with five goals and eight assists in 2023. 

Sousa is a highly decorated returner for the Purple and White. He was the conference player of the year in UB's first season in the CACC in 2022. Sousa racked up seven goals and eight assists that year.

Noah Bolivard and Hugo Franceschi are also back for UB after being named to the CACC's All-Conference Second Team last season. Franceschi allowed just 25 goals in 18 starts at goalkeeper while Bolivard started all 20 games as UB's top defender.

THE NEWCOMERS
Coach Doneit welcomes in a total of 13 new players to the program this fall. The influx of Purple Knights features seven graduate students, three juniors, two freshmen and a senior.  

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING (Quotes)

"The 2024 UB Men will be a team that is hungry to get over the hump after a finals appearance in 2023. With a nice mix of returning key players and the addition of 13 new incoming graduate and undergraduate student-athletes from all over the world, we are excited to see what we can accomplish in the CACC and beyond."

• Pete Doneit, Head Coach (9^th Season)

"As a first-year coach at UB, it's been exciting to build relationships with the guys, both on and off the field. As a coaching staff, it is our goal to bring players from various backgrounds together and to create an atmosphere that they can all thrive and excel in."

• Antony Howard, Assistant Coach (1^st Season)

"I am extremely excited about the upcoming season. The team is looking great and is showing a lot of potential. After coming so close last season, winning the conference is our main goal. As long as we continue improving our team chemistry, both on and off the field, anything is possible."

• Lucas Mah, Junior Captain

FOLLOW ALONG
For all information regarding Bridgeport Athletics, log on to www.UBKnights.com and follow UB Athletics on Facebook (UBPurpleKnights), Twitter (@UBPurpleKnights) and Instagram (@UBPurpleKnights).