Nov. 23, 2008

BROOKHAVEN, NY – Junior F Lamine Traore scored the lone goal with 37 seconds left in the second overtime to lift Dowling College over UMass Lowell, 1-0, in the NCAA Tournament East Region Championship Sunday at the Golden Lions Field.

With the loss, the River Hawks end a stellar season with a 13-4-4 record, which included a share of the Northeast-10 Conference regular season title.

Dowling moves on to the NCAA Tournament semifinal for the fifth time in eight years where it will face Northern Kentucky University on Friday.

Traore, who left the match with an injury in the 11th minute and only returned late in the first overtime, scored the winner when he possessed on the left side, dribbled and struck a lined blast inside the left post, past sprawling goalkeeper Ryan Richards (Holden, MA).

Despite the goal, the River Hawk back four – seniors Jose Esteves (Fall River, MA) and Tim Bengston (Andover, MA), junior Rudy Kocandrle (Northboro, MA) and freshman Asley Barrios (Revere, MA) – played admirably, only allowing the Golden Lions four shots on target on the day.

“I think we can take some solace in how well we defended throughout the game,” said UML Head Coach Ted Priestly. “Dowling is full of class, quality players and we limited them to one half chance. Full credit to (Traore), he made something out of nothing and that was the difference.”

The River Hawks enjoyed the run of play in the first half and began to attack in the 23rd minute when a header by senior M Jamie Wangia (Lowell, MA) had senior G Nemanja Veljovic beat, but caromed off the left post.

Two minutes later, senior F Matt Dubois (Dracut, MA) struck from long range, eliciting a diving stop by Veljovic which resulted in a corner, the first of four UML corners in the half.

Veljovic came to Dowling’s rescue in the 32nd minute when freshman F Diego Tabares (Seekonk, MA) sent a failed clearance into the six-yard box, which junior F Jeffery Danso (Worcester, MA) volleyed only for Veljovic to tip with an outstretched right glove.

Freshman M Matheus Candido (Lowell, MA) one-timed the rebound, though off the leg of Veljovic and over the crossbar.

“We pushed the game and got them under a great deal of pressure,” Priestly noted. “We hit the post and had two shots cleared off the line. At that point we thought we’d get through them and get a goal. But it just wasn’t to be.”

Dowling’s best chance of the first half came in the 44th minute when Richards punched a corner to the top of the box and was felled by a defender. Senior M Samba Traore volleyed back, but Richards composed himself in time to comfortably save.

The Golden Lions attacked immediately in the second half with Samba Traore and junior D Chindeum Azikiwe both going over the bar in the first five minutes.

Tabares had a chance in the 70th minute when he took a back pass from senior M Matias Pietropinto (Leominster, MA) deep in the left side of the box with Veljovic out of position, but put his attempt wide right through traffic.

Dowling had a pair of chances in succession in the minutes afterward. Junior M Steven Schneider’s flick off a free kick by senior D Rob Miller went wide left, and following an impressive run down the right by Samba Traore, Schneider’s shot from the top right of the box rolled wide left.

Shots were even at 10-10 while UMass Lowell had a 5-4 edge on target. Richards made four saves while Veljovic stopped five shots.

“I think we should be proud of the journey, but to be honest, we’re disappointed in the final destination,” Priestly said. “We expected to be in the final four. If the ball bounced differently we’d be in Tampa. Instead it’s Dowling and we wish them all the best.”

More than 100 UMass Lowell students and supporters attended the match.

“I want to extend our team’s gratitude to our fans who traveled four hours to support us,” Priestly said. “They helped turn this into virtually a home game for us and we wish we could’ve given them something else.”

NCAA Tournament East Region Championship
Dowling 1, UMass Lowell 0 (2OT)
At Brentwood, NY

Goalkeepers
Nemanja Veljovic (DOW): 5saves, 110:00
Ryan Richards (UML):  4 saves, 110:00