MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Danny Hernandez (Salem, N.H.) scored a pair of goals as No. 8 Southern New Hampshire University posted a 4-0 men's soccer victory over the University of Bridgeport at Larkin Field Wednesday afternoon. The Penmen improved to 3-0 on the season, while the Purple Knights suffered their first loss of the season and are now 2-1.
Michael Adam (Ludlow, Mass.) and Nick Papamichael (Raymond, N.H.) also had goals for the Penmen.
Hernandez got the Penmen on the board midway through the first half. Paul D'Angelo (Gloucester, Mass.) played a long ball up to Christian Rodriguez (Manchester, N.H.) who was to the left of goal. After taking a touch, he hit a sprinting Hernandez, who one-timed it past Bridgeport keeper Milos Suljagic.
Hernandez doubled SNHU's lead at the 51:16 mark. Jordan Branco (Norton, Mass.) delivered a pass to Hernandez from the right flank, and after making a move around a UB defender, beat Suljagic low and to the far left post. Adam made it 3-0 with just under 13 minutes to play when he collected a ball off a turnover from 25 yards out and fired a shot past a diving Suljagic.
Papamichael added his fourth goal of the season with 2:22 to play when he took a pass from Dominic Roberts (Ajax, Ontario) on the left wing. Papamichael sent a pass into the box that glanced off a defender, but he collected the rebound and snuck a shot inside the far right post.
Joey Kapinos (Ludlow, Mass.) played the first 83:55 in goal for SNHU and made five saves before giving way to Mark Painchaud (Concord, N.H.), who was not forced to make a stop over the final 6:05. Suljagic made nine saves as the Penmen outshot the Purple Knights 17-7, including an 11-2 advantage in the second half.
Southern New Hampshire returns to action Saturday when it opens Northeast-10 play at home against the University of New Haven. Game time is set for 1:00 at Larkin Field.
