LOWELL, Mass. – After almost 60 minutes of deadlocked game play, a 103
rd minute goal proved to be the difference-maker in a 2-1 setback for the UMass Lowell men's soccer team (1-6-1) against Massachusetts (5-2-1) in the annual Kennedy Cup matchup on Tuesday.
Graham Brenner netted the golden goal just over two minutes into the second overtime, getting his head on a free kick from teammate Ben Shephard to redirect the ball just past UMass Lowell goalkeeper
Christian Miesch (Ried-Brig, Switzerland).
"It's always very difficult playing a very direct team and having to sustain that sort of pressure for long periods of time throughout the game," said Head Coach
Christian Figueroa. "It's something we have to manage and sort out, and deal with some little details on the restarts."
Senior
Borna Miklic (Kutina, Croatia) tallied his team-leading third goal on the night for the River Hawks, while freshman
Jonathan Ferreira (Ashland, Mass.) picked up his third assist. Miesch finished with a season-high nine saves, as well.
The teams traded shots in the early minutes of the contest. The River Hawks first threatened to break open the scoring in just the 10
th minute when sophomore Guillermo Francés Poquet (Enguera, Valencia) sent a hard ball off his right foot towards the center of the net, but it was scooped up by the opposing keeper.
The home team pressured again in the 27
th minute, as Ferreira dangled a defender for an open look, although UMass Amherst's Marvyn Dorchin made a lunging stop to keep his team within one and leave the door open for the game-tying tally, which came on a one-timer from Andrew Ortiz inside the final five minutes of the half.
Early in the second, the Minutemen put three shots on target, but Miesch held steadfast, as the score remained 1-1. In the 57
th minute, freshman
Victor Viana (South Dennis, Mass.) found himself wide open with the ball at the top of the box before his attempt skidded wide right.
The River Hawks earned a corner kick in the final 10 seconds of the first overtime that sophomore
Marin Mamut (Split, Croatia) was able to get his head on, but his attempt floated just too high.
UMass Lowell continues its three-game homestand against UMBC on Saturday, September 25 at 7 p.m.
