Aug. 31, 2008

LOWELL, MA - Senior F Matt Dubois (Dracut, MA) recorded a hat trick and junior M Jeffery Danso (Worcester, MA) added two goals - including the game-winner in double overtime - as No. 17 UMass Lowell defeated Bloomfield College, 5-4, Sunday in a non-conference men's soccer clash at Cushing Field.

With the victory, the River Hawks improved to 1-1 overall entering next Saturday's clash at Dominican College (11:00). Bloomfield slipped to 0-2.

UMass Lowell enjoyed the run of play for the majority of the match, evidenced by shots (20-9 overall, 12-5 on target) and corner kicks (14-1), but twice had to come from behind to knot the score and force overtime.

Dubois scored his first two goals of the season just 31 seconds apart in the 20th minute, and his third in the 67th to bring the River Hawks level, 3-3. He scored his first when freshman M Matheus Candido (Lowell, MA) possessed a failed clearance and crossed to Dubois, who caught Bloomfield goalkeeper Julian Gaviria (Medellin, Colombia) out of position for the easy strike.

Just 31 seconds later, senior M Jose Esteves (Fall River, MA) played a ball to Dubois deep into the left side of the box, who then sidefooted a shot off a Deacon defender for a 2-0 cushion.

The Deacons had their own hat trick hero in junior F Evans Tageo (Ghana), who brought Bloomfield back with his first goal in the 22nd minute when he flicked a cross from junior M Jason Bryan (Plainfield, NJ) inside the left post.

Tageo earned his second on a counter, when junior D James Seck volleyed over the top of the River Hawk defense, enabling Tageo for a breakaway in which he slotted by UMass Lowell goalkeeper Ryan Richards (Holden, MA). In the 63rd minute,

Bloomfield capitalized on its only corner kick when Tageo's running header of a launch by junior M Tristan Sommerville (Jersey City, NJ) enabled for a 3-2 lead.

UMass Lowell continued to apply pressure and it paid off in the 67th minute off a corner kick by freshman M Diego Tabares (Seekonk, MA) which first found the head of sophomore F Stephen Potcner (Wilmington, MA) and then Dubois, who outjumped a pair of defenders to put a shot over the grasp of Gaviria.

Bloomfield caught the UMass Lowell defense once again, however, in the 75th minute when sophomore D Esteban Capozucchi (West New York, NJ) sent a volley to junior F Dwayne Reid (Bronx, NY), who broke in alone on Richards and slotted inside the right post.

Following a handball in the Bloomfield box, Dubois nearly scored a fourth in the 78th minute, but his penalty kick was blocked and smothered by Gaviria. However, the Deacons were forced to play the remainder of the match a man down when senior D David Petner (Mullica Hill, NJ) was sent off for his second bookable offense.

The River Hawks pressured and Danso came through in the 84th minute. Junior D Mike Clem (Charlton, MA) freed Danso on the right side of the box with a volley, which Danso tucked into the far corner to force the extra sessions.

UMass Lowell outshot Bloomfield, 7-0, in the two overtimes with the winner coming just 1:24 from full time. Potcner meandered through down the left side of the Bloomfield box and crossed to an unmarked Danso who tapped home the winner.

Richards had one save for the River Hawks while Gaviria stopped six shots.