Liam MacKenzie – Student Reporter
Kingston, RI – The Merrimack College men’s soccer team finally found the win column on Wednesday night, defeating the University of Rhode Island 3-1 at the URI Soccer Complex. The victory marked Merrimack’s first win of the 2026 season.
The Warriors came out of the gates with strong offensive pressure, keeping Rhode Island on its heels throughout the opening half. Merrimack’s defensive effort also kept the Rams off the scoreboard, allowing the Warriors to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Baisch Opens the Scoring – Merrimack broke through in the 29th minute when Pedro Baisch found the back of the net. Baisch’s goal gave the Warriors a 1-0 advantage and provided the early spark Merrimack needed.
The Warriors continued to apply pressure following the opening goal. Rhode Island struggled to generate an equalizing response as Merrimack maintained control of the match.
Grigoryan Doubles the Advantage – Merrimack added to its lead just before halftime when Vlad Grigoryan scored in the 43rd minute. Grigoryan’s goal sent the Warriors into the locker room with a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
The two-goal cushion gave Merrimack plenty of confidence heading into the second half. However, Rhode Island would quickly make things interesting after the break.
Rhode Island Cuts Into the Lead – The Rams responded in the 53rd minute when Tiago Barrinquinha converted a penalty kick. The goal cut Merrimack’s lead to 2-1 and gave Rhode Island an opportunity to shift the momentum.
Merrimack refused to let the Rams’ comeback attempt gain much traction. The Warriors quickly answered with another goal to restore their two-goal advantage.
Zunec Puts the Game Away – In the 62nd minute, Bor Zunec found the back of the net to make it a 3-1 game. Zunec’s goal was assisted by Salvatore Zani, giving Merrimack another important offensive contribution.
From there, the Warriors’ defense held firm against Rhode Island. Merrimack kept the Rams off the scoreboard for the remainder of the match, preserving the two-goal advantage.
A Victory Worth the Wait – When the final whistle sounded, Merrimack had officially secured its first victory of the season, taking down Rhode Island by a 3-1 final. Baisch, Grigoryan and Zunec each found the back of the net as the Warriors delivered a complete performance.
After a challenging start to the season, Merrimack can now turn its attention toward building momentum. The Warriors will look to carry the confidence from their win into the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
