Firebirds All Business in 2-0 Bounce-Back Win at Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The University of the District of Columbia men's soccer team scored a goal each half while holding the host Purple Knights scoreless throughout as the Firebirds bounced back from Wednesday's 2-1 defeat vs. NYIT with a 2-0 East Coast Conference road win vs. the University of Bridgeport on Saturday afternoon at Knights Field.

The Firebirds improved to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in league play with today's victory, while Bridgeport lost its third straight game on Homecoming Day and fell to 2-7-1 overall and 1-4-1 in league play. UDC out-shot UB 10-6, doubled-up the hosts in corner kicks, 8-4, and was penalized for four fewer fouls (12-8).

Sophomore goalkeeper Joao Brusamolin (3-3) stopped all three shots he faced as he earned his 3^rd complete game shutout victory this season and 4^th of his career. Bridgeport goalkeeper Daniel Coviella (1-5-1) made four saves and allowed two goals in the loss.

Senior forward Raphael Pacano scored the gamewinner right around the 33-minute mark – his 5^th goal of the season. The play was created by senior midfielder Thomas Alvarez's great long ball out wide to the right side of the field, which was chased down by the sideline by senior defender Victor Salinas Furio. After tracking the ball down, Salinas Furio sent a cross in front of the net for Pacano who put it home for the game's first goal. UDC would take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

The Firebirds stayed on the aggressive in the 2^nd half with six corner kicks and four shots, and for their efforts, added an insurance goal on an outstanding free kick in the top corner by sophomore midfielder Gabriel Torres with only three minutes remaining in the game. Torres, who entered the game tied for 3^rd in the nation in scoring, has now scored 13 goals this season – the most by any Firebird since current professional soccer player for the North American Soccer League's Carolina Railhawks, Jonathan Orlando, scored 16 goals in 2005.

Meanwhile, a stout Firebird defense  limited the Purple Knights' attack to just three total shots and only two shots on goal to preserve UDC's 4^th shutout victory the season.

The Firebirds will host non-conference foe Seton Hill on Tuesday, October 10^th at 3 p.m.