BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut -- The American International College men's soccer team won a 3-2 victory at the University of Bridgeport on Wednesday, August 31.
AIC's record now stands at 1-1-1 on the season.
The Yellow Jackets raced out to an early lead, striking in the ninth minute. A turnover in the Bridgeport end of the field ended up at the feet of Gianfranco Lopreiato, who fed a through ball to Christian Amaral for his first AIC goal at the 8:15 mark.
Just shy of the quarter-hour point, AIC doubled the lead. Dirk Doppen single-handedly scored a thrilling goal, charging past several defenders with possession of the ball, breaking into the box, and finding his way past goalkeeper Clement Anet at 14:56 for his first of the season.
The Purple Knights cut the deficit in half in the 26th minute, as a Jesse Clark pass from the left side of the box found Maximilian Kissel in front of the net to put in the ball at 25:28.
AIC held off the Purple Knights for the rest of the first half and into the second, and Doppen reestablished the two-goal advantage for the Yellow Jackets, slotting home a pass from Leonard Riby-William at 68:38 for his second of the game and season.
The Purple Knights scored with less than six seconds left in regulation for the 3-2 final, a Jesse Clark tally that made the scoreline look closer than the actual game was.
Lucas Morales-Fernandez earned the win with four stops; his counterpart Anet likewise stopped four bids.
AIC will be back at home on Saturday, September 3 for the team's first regular-season game at Abdow Field against the University of the District of Columbia. Kickoff is slated for 2:00 p.m.
