LOWELL, Mass. – Although a late goal by senior
Daniel Orrego (Revere, Mass.) forced overtime, the UMass Lowell men's soccer team (0-1-0) fell, 2-1, against America East pre-season favorite New Hampshire in the 2021 season opener on Friday afternoon.
Facing a 1-0 deficit, the River Hawks earned a free kick in the 89th minute of regulation. Orrego lined up to take the kick and fired a ball low and hard that squeezed through a hole in the wall and into the lower right corner of the net, sending the game into overtime.
However, just over five minutes into the extra period, the Wildcats' Jacob Gould took control of the ball deep in the box and pushed a short pass over to Rory O'Driscoll for the finish on the right side, sealing the 2-1 outcome.
"It was a little bit tough early on," said Head Coach
Christian Figueroa. "First game in well-over a year, so it was difficult without any opportunities to play before this, but I thought we dealt with it pretty well. The first goal by New Hampshire turned things over a little, but it was good by our guys to keep going and get that late goal to force overtime. There was a lot of good, positive things to be taken out of this game. And the good thing about this is we'll have another opportunity to play these guys later in the season."
Orrego's goal goes down as his first-career tally for the River Hawks. He also led the team with two shots on goal in the contest. Sophomore
Jacob Heihsel (Holliston, Mass.) and freshman
Loucas Costeas (Nicosia, Cyprus) split time in net, logging three saves apiece, with Costeas taking the decision.
The Wildcats controlled possession in the first half, outshooting the River Hawks, 10-3, but the UMass Lowell backline kept the visitors off the board. Late in the first, UMass Lowell took control of the momentum and closed the half with a corner chance before the teams would head into the break locked in a 0-0 stalemate.
After 20 more minutes of scoreless action, O'Driscoll fed a pass to Victor Menudier to put UNH ahead, 1-0.
The River Hawks are back in action next Friday, March 5 when they visit Vermont.
