By Draven Dabrowski
Sports Writer
The Owls remain red hot, extending their winning streak with a 1-0 win over American International. The university’s composed and disciplined defense once again proved to be the difference maker at Jess Dow Field.
The university hosted AIC on Oct. 7. This victory marked the Owls’ fifth straight, as the university continued to build momentum in NE10 play with another composed performance.
“We did a good job keeping them in front of us,” Head Coach Kevin Anderson said.
Both sides came out evenly matched in the first half, trading possession and looking for openings in what was largely a midfield battle.
The university created several chances through quick passing and movement on the wings, but the breakthrough did not come for the Owls until
In the 46th minute, the university capitalized. Midfielder Amos Bignotti, a freshman, scored his first career goal. This gave the university the 1-0 lead — one they would protect for the rest of the night.
“I can’t describe it,” Bignotti said. “I’ve been working hard all week, and to have my mom in the stands watching, it feels great.”
Following the goal, the pace of the match slowed. The Owls’ defense stayed sharp, cutting off passing lanes and preventing AIC from finding rhythm.
Despite the win, Anderson said he felt the team’s play is still not where it should be, pointing to stretches of inconsistency that nearly opened the door for AIC.
“There was a lot of inconsistent play in the final third to keep things simple, and simple things usually work,” Anderson said.
The university outshot AIC 13-4 overall and held a 5-0 advantage in shots on goal. The university also earned seven corner kicks while not giving up any, demonstrating their sustained pressure and ability to control the tempo throughout the match.
Goalkeeper Diego Flores, a freshman, was awarded NE10 Goalkeeper of the Week and Rookie of the Week for a second consecutive week.
“It felt great,” Flores said. “All the work finally paid off, and it’s great to be recognized for it.”
Flores recorded a clean sheet as the defense refused to give AIC a single shot on target.
The Owls’ ability to stay calm under pressure continued to shine. The university committed 11 fouls to AIC’s 17.
In the midfield, Jeremy Martin, a graduate student, and Kasper Murzinski, a sophomore, dictated play, moving the ball through traffic and helping maintain possession. Their calm control allowed the Owls to close out the match, limiting AIC’s chances and keeping the game at their tempo.
As the final whistle blew, the team celebrated another victory. The win pushes the Owls’ record to 5-2-2 overall and 3-0-1 in NE10 play, putting them further near the top of the conference standings.
Following the victory, the Owls kept their winning streak alive against Franklin Pierce University on Oct. 8, in Rindge, New Hampshire. Tied Franklin Pierce, a team that is undefeated in conference play, 0-0.
