EAST BOSTON – For the first time since 2014, Suffolk men's soccer found itself in the win column in the season opener as an early second half marker by Felipe Ucros sent the Rams over Mass. Maritime, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.

THE BASICS
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-0) | Mass. Maritime (0-1)
SCORE: Suffolk 2, Mass. Maritime 0

HOW IT HAPPENED
After an even opening 20 minutes, Suffolk turned up the volume to strike first thanks to a tally from James Fisher. The one-goal cushion was short lived, however, as the Buccaneers responded 16 minutes later with a good header from Jake Pforr made it a 1-all game. The score stood still for the remainder of the first frame as the team's headed into intermission at an even 1-1.

Five minutes into the second half, Suffolk took advantage of its second corner of the game. Although the first send in from Christian Restrepo did not result in a goal, the sophomore forward used the rebound to set-up his classmate, Ucros. Ucros capitalized, striking his first marker of the year, to give Suffolk a 2-1 edge at the 50-minute mark.

From there, Suffolk's back line held off the Buccaneers, limiting the visitor's shot attempts to seven over the final 40 minutes and just two on target, both of which Van Cleef turned aside. 

GOALS

• Fisher opened up the scoring at the 21:38 minute mark of the 1st. Jack O'Connor lofted a long ball down the right sideline to Jordan Casey, who picked it up at the 15-yard mark. The junior captain attacked the net, drawing Mike Prunchnick to the right and set up Fisher for a one-time in the front of the net.
• With just over eight minutes remaining before half time, Adam Crawford volleyed the rock from the 10-yard line over to Pforr on Kyle Van Cleef's left hand side. Mass. Maritime's sophomore used his head to put the ball in the back of the netting and leveled the playing field.
• After a Suffolk corner a cluster in front of the Buccaneers goal ensued. Restrepo picked up the pieces and lobbed in a pass to Ucros, who snuck the ball past Prunchnick on low left-hand side to put Suffolk back in front, 2-1, five minutes into the second stanza.

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Van Cleef finished the season debut with eight saves to pick up the victory.
• Prunchnick faced 12 shots, turning aside 10. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Mass. Maritime held the advantage in shots, 17-16, however, it was the Rams that were more accurate with a 12-9 edge in attempts on net.
• The Buccaneers had seven corner attempts compared to the Rams pair. 

NOTEABLES

• The Rams moved to 6-2 when playing the first game of a new campaign on its home pitch.
• Since 2003, Suffolk improves to 10-6 in the season debut.
• Suffolk stretched its win streak versus Mass. Maritime to two in the 12th meeting between the squads and the first ever on opening day.
• Fisher and Ucros each netted their first goal as a Ram.   

POST GAME PIC

COMING UP
Suffolk is back in action tomorrow as it closes Labor Day weekend versus the Framingham State Rams in Eastie. First kick is at 1 p.m.