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BROOKLINE, Mass. – Making a warm return to Parsons Field, the Northeastern men's soccer team benefitted from a pair of goals from veterans Christian McKenna and Ackim Mpofu as NU shut out Drexel, 2-0, during the Huskies' CAA opener.
 
Northeastern (2-4-0, 1-0-0 CAA) orchestrated a steady attack during the opening half, attempting eight shots and earning four corners before halftime. McKenna broke through for the Huskies with a curler during the 18th minute, while Mpofu banked a rolling shot off the left post during the 41st. Khori Bennett and Brendan Massie each picked up their first assists of the season on the two goals, respectively.
 
Making his fifth start of the year, Jonathan Thuresson blanked Drexel (1-3-2, 0-1-0 CAA) for the second time during his career, keeping out all three of the Dragons' shots.
 
Saturday marked the sixth straight home CAA match for Northeastern in which the Huskies have scored multiple goals. NU has also won three of its last four conference games at Parsons Field.
 
GOAL RECAPS
 
• Northeastern (18th minute): Keeping the ball in play along the left end line, Khori Bennett fed a pass back to Christian McKenna near the top of the 18-yard box. With plenty of shooting space, McKenna planted his right foot and curled with his left a shot to the top left corner of the net, giving the Huskies their earliest goal of the 2016 season.
• Northeastern (41st minute): Lewis Aird lined up to take Northeastern's third corner of the match during the 40th minute, resulting in a header by Gaku Lange that traveled high. Following the goal kick, NU regained possession in the midfield, where Brendan Massie and Ackim Mpofu began to work a give-and-go up the right side. Mpofu made the final touch, sending a rolling shot across the net to the left post, where the ball deflected in to provide the Huskies with a two-goal cushion.
 
NOTEWORTHY
 
• Christian McKenna and Ackim Mpofu both charted their first goals of the 2016 season. McKenna powered home his first goal in eight appearances (Oct. 24, 2015), while Mpofu netted his first goal in 13 appearances (Oct. 10, 2015).
• Following Saturday's match, McKenna and Khori Bennett are tied for the squad lead in points with three apiece (one goal, one assist).
• Jonathan Thuresson notched his second clean sheet of 2016 and seventh of his career. He owns a goals against average of 1.30 through 415 minutes this season.
• Northeastern snapped a five-match streak without scoring a goal during the first half, recording two on Saturday.
• Redshirt-freshman Chris Scatterday made his first collegiate start for NU.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Huskies will begin a brief, two-match road trip on Wednesday, Sept. 21, when Northeastern travels to New Hampshire to take on the Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. From there, NU will head to Delaware to battle the Blue Hens on Saturday, Sept. 24, during its second CAA test.