UB Men's Soccer Plays High-Scoring Season Opener But Falls To New Haven, 4-3

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport men's soccer team returned to the pitch after a 655-day hiatus on Thursday evening, as the Purple Knights (0-1) opened their 2021 season with a high-scoring 4-3 home loss to the visiting University of New Haven Chargers (1-0).

UB trailed by scores of 2-0 and 3-1 in the match before newcomer, junior Chigozie Okorie (Houston, Tex.) knotted the contest at 3-3, with a goal at the 74:15 mark off an assist from freshman Jose Uresti (Pharr, Tex.).  Okorie's goal came just under four minutes after classmate and fellow newcomer Luis Rubio (Edinburg, Tex.) made the score 3-2 with his first UB tally.

New Haven opened the scoring on the evening with two early goals coming at the 17:21 and 20:12 marks of the first half.

The Purple Knights cut the Chargers' lead to just 2-1 right before halftime when freshman Lucas Sousa (Campinas, Brazil) scored off a UNH defensive misplay with just under 30 seconds to go in the opening period.

New Haven scored Wednesday's match-winning with just under 10 minutes to play in the second half and just under six minutes after UB had tie the match, when freshman Pau Santanach netted his second goal of the night off a beautiful feed from Tano Desseno, who had two assists for the winners.

Graduate student Clement Anet (Cosse le Viven, France) faced 13 shots and made two saves in goal in the season opener for Bridgeport.  Themis Kastoris made four stops for winners.

The UB men's soccer team is back in action on Sunday, when the Purple Knights travel to Springfield, Massachusetts for their first road tilt of 2021 taking on American International College.  Action is set to begin at 4:00 p.m.