MONTREAL - FC Montreal scored twice inside the opening half-hour as it took a 2-0 victory against the Universite de Montreal on Sunday night at Complexe sportif Marie-Victorin in a preseason exhibition.

“We had a really good first half,” said Montreal Head Coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “It was the best first half since the beginning of the preparation. We also faced a really good goalkeeper. The second half was more average. We lacked efficiency in front of the net.”

FC Montreal took the lead from the penalty spot in the 11th minute after Heikel Jarras was fouled in the penalty area. Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé stepped up and slotted his shot into the left corner of the net.

Former PDL standout Michael Salazar doubled the lead just before the half-hour mark when he was played in alone into the right side of the penalty area by Mastanabal Kacher. His shot found the back of the net to make it 2-0.

FC Montreal tried to add to its lead after the halftime break, but Nevello Yoseke was denied by the crossbar as his shot from just outside the penalty area just missed the target.

Sunday’s game was FC Montreal’s last against college opposition, with the side set to close its schedule against professional opposition before its USL regular season opener against Bethlehem Steel FC on Friday, March 25.

“It ends our series against university teams on a positive note. Those are always interesting games to play in the winter,” said Eullaffroy. “Now, we focus on the last three preparation games we have until the opening game of the season. I think our increasingly better control of the game gives fewer chances to our opponents, as evidenced by our last games with no goals allowed.”