FINAL SCORE: Vermont 2, Central Connecticut State 0
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. –
Brian Wright opened the scoring and later assisted on fellow senior
Bernard Yeboah's third goal in two games as Vermont shut down Central Connecticut State 2-0 on Monday night at CCSU Soccer Field.
Freshman goalie
Aron Runarsson was only forced to make two saves, but both were important stops in preserving the shutout in his NCAA debut. The Catamounts improved to 2-0, while the Blue Devils fell to 0-1 after their season opener.
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Three minutes into his first career game, Runarsson made a key save at the back post on Andres Muriel Albino after a low cross came across the 6-yard box.
Wright gave the Cats an early lead on the ensuing possession as he streaked behind the Central Connecticut back line. The forward took one strong dribble into the penalty area before beating Nick Velleca short side with a low right-footed drive. The goal was Wright's second in as many games to begin his senior season.
Yeboah, the season's first America East Player of the Week, narrowly missed the left post with a right-footed effort nine minutes into the match after a feed from Wright at the edge of the CCSU box.
Runarsson made another important save with 10 minutes left in the first half, moving to his left to rob CCSU's leading returning scorer Ryan Taylor of the equalizer.
Vermont dodged a bullet early in the second half when David Bergstrom hit the left post on a curling free kick driven under the Catamount wall from 30 yards away.
UVM doubled its lead in the 55th minute when CCSU misplayed a header, sending Wright in alone on net. Wright delayed before feeding Yeboah at the left post ahead of a pair of Blue Devil defenders for a 2-0 cushion. Yeboah collected his third goal of the season, while Wright registered his sixth point.
A goal kick from Runarsson with eight minutes remaining sprung Wright free on net, but Carson D'Ambrosio denied the senior his second tally of the contest.
UVM finished the night with a 15-8 edge in shots. Wright and Yeboah have combined for all five Vermont goals through two games, and the seniors have totaled 12 points in those matches.
The Catamounts return to Burlington this weekend to host Sacred Heart, LIU Brooklyn, and Bucknell in the Peter Baldwin Memorial Classic presented by Morgan Stanley at Virtue Field. UVM faces Sacred Heart under the lights on Friday (Sept. 2) at 7 p.m., then takes on LIU Brooklyn on Sunday (Sept. 4) at 3 p.m.
Tickets for the tournament are available at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Ticket Office on gameday. Live video for all four games of the tournament is available via AmericaEast.TV.
