By Jessica Geller, Deputy Sports Editor
Northeastern University’s men’s soccer season began Friday night at Parsons Field against rival University of New Hampshire with a 1-0 win, followed by a 1-0 loss to the University of Hartford Monday night.
Freshman Frantzdy Pierrot started off his college career by scoring the lone goal in the 39th minute off of redshirt-freshman midfielder Daniel Arvidsson’s corner kick. A rookie hasn’t scored the Huskies’ first goal of the season since 2010. Pierrot led the Huskies with five shots on goal.
After his stellar performance, Pierrot was named CAA Rookie of the Week on Monday. Before wearing red and black, he played for Seacoast United Soccer Development Academy. Pierrot earned several awards, including the Boston Globe All-Scholastic, and he was a part of the US Soccer Eastern Conference All Star Squad by the US Soccer Developmental Academy program.
Freshman goalie Jonathan Thuresson didn’t allow UNH to score, while making five saves.
Another freshman, forward Harry Swartz, had several chances to increase Northeastern’s lead. Early in the game, Swartz and freshman midfielder Brad Fountain passed the ball well on their approach to the goal, but missed on an attempted shot. Swartz and Pierrot almost connected again later but Pierrot’s header was too strong to land in the box.
The freshmen forward showed they are ready to fight aggressively in the CAA. Referees handed Arvidsson a yellow card in the second half.
Northeastern has won its last four home openers, outscoring opponents 10-3 in that stretch. Friday night’s game against UNH was Northeastern’s first win against the Wildcats since 2003.
The team made its way to Connecticut on Monday for its next match. The Hawks’ Andre Morrison netted a goal in the 33rd minute. That was all they would need as the Huskies’ 10 shots on goal, to the Hawks’ 15, did not leave a mark on the scoreboard. Thuresson made two saves.
Fountain gave Hartford’s goalie, David MacKinnon, a run for his money early in the match. Fountain had two good looks at the goal but sent both balls over the crossbar.
Northeastern is looking for a winning season, having finished last year 6-9-3. The team was fifth in the CAA at 3-3-1. The pre-season coaches’ poll predicts a sixth place finish for the Huskies.
The Huskies have 11 freshmen on the 2014 team to help replace the five graduates, along with 11 current seniors. Senior defender Simon Cox and redshirt seniors Jacob Aduama (goalie) and Ambry Moss (defender) are the three captains. Cox was named to the All-CAA Pre-Season Team for the second year in a row. Two new coaches, associate head coach Brendan Burke and assistant coach Conrad Whyte, have been added to assist head coach Brian Ainscough. This is Ainscough’s 10th season with the soccer team.
The Huskies return to the field Friday night at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Photo by Jim Pierce, Northeastern Athletics
