LANCASTER, Pa. – Two goals from A.J. Kopacz powered No. 5 Franklin & Marshall past the Ursinus College men's soccer team, 2-0.
Franklin & Marshall (9-1-2, 3-0-2) had control of the match from the opening whistle. The Diplomats, atop the Centennial Conference standings, took 21 total shots, landing nine of them on goal. Ursinus (0-9-2, 0-5) was held to nine shots and just one on goal.
In the 14th minute, Kopacz took a pass across middle of top of box from Ugo Okolie to give the Diplomats an early 1-0 lead. Kopacz slid it by Ursinus senior keeper Brandon Lillian as he came up to challenge the shot.
Despite the home side's onslaught, Ursinus held strong and trailed just 1-0 heading into the halftime break. Franklin & Marshall took 12 shots with seven on goal, while Ursinus was held to two shots with none on goal in the first half.
Franklin & Marshall expanded its lead to 2-0 when Kopacz scored his second goal of the game in the 64th minute. Steven Yakita sent a long cross to the far post before Kopacz found the lower right part of the goal.
Ursinus couldn't generate many scoring chances. On a breakaway in the 58th minute, senior Ben Amaral took a shot in the box but saw it saved away. Amaral's effort potentially could have tied the game and marked the Bears' only shot on goal.
The Bears had another opporunity to get on the board when sophomore Braden Burns was on a breakaway in the 80th minute, but Burns blasted high of the goal.
Lillian, the CC saves leader, had a busy match in between the pipes. Lillian made seven saves.
Franklin & Marshall goalie Christopher Amoruso posted the shutout with one save.
Ursinus travels to Keystone for a 7 p.m. match on Tuesday, October 9.