Men's soccer sharp in home opener, downing UNE 6-0

LEWISTON, Maine -- Senior Luis Pereira and junior Peabo Knoth both had career highs in points, with seven and six, respectively, as the Bates College men's soccer team defeated the University of New England 6-0 in the Bobcats' home opener Thursday night at Garcelon Field.

Bates (3-0-0) keeps pace with the 2000 team for its best start through three games since that season. The Nor'easters dip to 2-4-0.

Pereira scored twice and assisted on all three goals in Knoth's first career hat trick, as a potent and efficient Bates team scored six goals on nine shots on goal (20 shots in total). The Nor'easters were limited by a speedy Bates defense to nine shots, most of them from long distance.

Bates scored first in the 11th minute, when sophomore David Murphy (Yarmouth, Maine) delivered
a long throw-in into the UNE penalty area. Senior captain Noah Riskind (Bethesda, Md.) deftly glanced the ball off the back of his net to the feet of sophomore defender PJ DiBenedetto (Buffalo, N.Y.), who finished the play from 5 yards out for his first collegiate goal.

Bates went up 2-0 in the 13th minute when Pereira's shot was blocked over to Knoth, who settled the ball and banged it in through UNE defenders and inside the far (right) post.

The veteran forwards connected again in the 36th minute before Pereira scored one of his own, launching a beautiful free kick from 30 yards out, over a Nor'easter wall and into the upper right corner. The goal gave Bates a 4-0 lead at intermission.

Knoth notched the hat trick in the 52nd minute, taking an upfield pass from Pereira, pausing outside the top of the box and sending a topspin-heavy shot into the left side of the UNE goal.

Pereira made it 6-0 in the 64th minute, getting a pass up the left wing from sophomore Justin Yacovino (North Bergen, N.J.), stopping the ball to elude a defender and setting up a hard shot that glanced off a UNE defender and just out of reach of Nor'easter goalkeeper Nate Diffin.

Diffin finished with two saves. Bates got one save apiece from starting senior goalie Sam Polito (Far Hills, N.J.) and another from junior Jack Anderson (Rumford, R.I.). First-year Robbie Montanaro (Belmont, Mass.) also tended goal for the Bobcats in the second half.

Bates faces Thomas College on Saturday at 2pm in another non-conference game. UNE will host Curry College in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game Saturday at noon.