Jacksonville 2, Massachusetts 0
Jacksonville’s Stefan Durr had the game-winner in the first half, and Nick Rodriguez provided the insurance goal in the second half as the Dolphins dropped the Minutemen, 2-0.
The loss was UMass’ third-straight and for the third-straight time the Maroon and White failed to register a goal.
Just over 28 minutes into the game, Durr found the back of the net on an assist from Tobias Hottner.
Rodriguez scored his second-half goal at the 76:39 mark, beating UMass goalie Shane Curran-Hays.
The Minutemen held a 14-10 advantage in shots taken, and a 9-2 edge in corner kicks over Jacksonville, but UMass was again unable to take advantage of the opportunities given to them.
A pair of bench players led the Minutemen in shots and shots on goal as Jake Murphy was summoned from the bench and attempted three shots, while fellow substitute Mike Loughery put two shots on net.
Johnny Foley recorded the shutout, with five saves for the Dolphins, while his counterpart Curran-Hays struggled in his first start of the year, allowing a pair of goals and recording one save for UMass.
The loss puts Massachusetts at 0-3 to start non-conference play.
UCF 2, UMass 0
After falling in their season opener to an impressive Delaware team, the Minutemen faced the unenviable task of defeating No. 16 Central Florida on the road.
It was a task that UMass was unable to accomplish as it fell 2-0, thanks to a pair of first-half goals from McKauly Tulloch.
Tulloch tallied back-to-back goals at the 21:40 and 28:54 minute marks of the first half.
A two-goal cushion was all Knights goalie Shawn Doyle needed as he stopped two shots for a shutout.
For the second-straight game the Minutemen offense was anemic. They attempted five shots, with only two of those shots challenging Doyle.
Meanwhile, Frame started his second consecutive game, allowing two goals and stopping one shot for UMass.
The game featured plenty of aggressive play as six yellow cards were issued, four for the Minutemen and two for the Knights.
The loss dropped UMass to 0-2 on the season while the Knights improved to 2-0 after the victory.
Delaware 3, UMass 0
The Minutemen kicked off the 2011 season poorly, as they were thumped, 3-0, by Delaware.
The Blue Hens’ Evans Frimpong, was the star on the pitch, netting a pair of goals to propel his team to an easy victory in their home opener in Newark, Delaware.
Delaware goalkeeper Brandon Paul only had one shot to stop en route to his seventh career shutout.
Frimpong began the blowout after the eight-minute mark of the first half on an assist from Roberto Gimenez. Then, four minutes into the second half, Frimpong extended the Blue Hens’ lead to two with his second goal of the game.
Chas Wilson concluded the scoring at the 76:11 mark when he finished off a cross from teammate Kyle Ellis.
UMass fired off seven shots total, but David Key was the only Minuteman able to force Paul into a save.
Senior forward Bryant Craft led the Maroon and White with three shots, while Key and Hellah Sidibe unsuccessfully fired off two of their own.
Brian Frame made five saves in his first career start in net for the Minutemen.
UMass defender Dominic Skrajewski was tossed from the game at the 79:04 mark when the referee issued him his second yellow card of the match.
Jackson Alexander can be reached at [email protected].
