KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island struck early and later converted on a pair of free kicks to hand the Boston University men's soccer team a 3-0 season-opening road defeat on Friday night.

The ability to score on set pieces proved to be the difference with the Rams successfully clearing six Terrier corner kicks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tallying three points for the Rams, 2016 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Stavros Zarokostas sent a pass from the right side in the fifth minute to the front of the box to Chae Brangman, who beat sophomore keeper Michael Bernardi to the right post for the 1-0 advantage.
• BU had a great opportunity to net the equalizer in the 15th minute following its second corner kick, but Nils Leifhelm stopped point-blank shots from junior David Riccio and senior Adam Sheikali.
• URI extended the lead in the 36th minute with the help of a free kick that set up preaseason A-10 member Peder Kristiansen's shot attempt and then Zarokostas' successful one-time score off Bernardi's save.
• The Rams' needed less than five minutes again to open a half with a goal, as Kristiansen's free kick attempt from over 35 yards out on the right side managed to get through traffic and slide inside the lower left post.
• Leifhelm had two saves in the second half, including an impressive one at 53:37 when he used his outstretched hands to tip away a hard attempt from sophomore Matt McDonnell.

GAME NOTES

• The Terriers were outshot 12-7 despite owning a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
• Suffering its first season-opening shutout loss since 2012, BU featured just one active player in the game who scored last season ... McDonnell had three of the Terriers' 23 goals in 2016.
• Bernardi, Maxwell Aunger, Elias Lampis, Austin D'Anna, Ignacio Roitman and Peter Kargbo all started in their debut as Terriers.
• BU and URI met for the first time since 2010 with the Rams snapping a seven-game losing streak in the series.

 NEXT UP: BOSTON COLLEGE

• The Terriers will host the Eagles in their home opener on Sunday (Aug. 27) at 7 p.m., as part of a BU soccer doubleheader … The women will first face Hofstra starting at 4 p.m.
• BC edged BU, 3-2, in last year's season opener at home en route to an NCAA at-large appearance that featured a 1-0 win over Fordham and 3-0 loss to Albany in the Round of 32.
• BU holds an 18-26-8 record in the all-time series dating back to 1967.