Sept. 22, 2010

Box Score

Freshman GK Chris Maierle (Wantagh, N.Y.) stopped eight shots as UMass Lowell and No. 4 Southern New Hampshire played to a 0-0 deadlock in double overtime Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer clash at Daniel J. Larkin Field.

With the draw, UMass Lowell brings a 1-4-1 overall record (0-2-1 in the NE-10) into Saturday’s home match with American International College (3:30). The Penmen are currently 6-0-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the Conference.

“It was a battling road draw for us. I was very happy with the effort,” said UML Head Coach Bryan Scales. “We would’ve loved to have gotten the three points, but it’s a clean sheet. I told the guys afterward that the result of this game will be based on Saturday’s game. Hopefully it’s a good stepping stone for us.

“The guys really put in a good shift,” he added. “Our back four were especially good.”

The shutout was the second of the season for Maierle and the UMass Lowell defense.

Southern New Hampshire outshot UMass Lowell 22-8 overall and 8-1 on frame. The River Hawks survived a flurry in the final minutes of the first half, beginning in the 44th minute when Maierle thwarted an attempt by sophomore D Dominic Roberts.

About a minute later, an attempt by sophomore F Chris Tsonis caromed off the post and the rebound went to the foot of sophomore M Christian Rodriguez, who shot wide seconds before the horn.

The Penmen maintained the pressure in the second half and were denied by the woodwork again. In the 60th minute, a shot by senior M Michael Adam hit the crossbar while the rebound went to Tsonis, but Maierle was there for the stop.

“Charlie (Ober, sophomore defender) was able to get down the right side in the second half and put in some good serves, but we weren’t able to get anything on them,” Scales noted. “We dealt with a lot of stuff (SNHU) threw at us, and that was encouraging.”

Junior GK Joey Kapinos had one save for the Penmen.