FORT KENT, ME
A new era began for UMPI Men's Soccer on Tuesday night for the Owls as newly minted Head Coach John Gonzalez's squad fought hard with USCAA powerhouse University of Maine at Fort Kent. The Bengals, who were fresh off a 2-0 victory over the NAC favorite Thomas College, prevailed thanks to a couple of mid-second-half goals that sealed the deal.
How it Happened:
The 6pm kickoff on a warm September 1st evening started off as a physical one with several fouls from both sides through the first 20 minutes. The Owls survived a couple of scares including two corner kicks before the Bengals converted in the 29th minute to break the scoreless tie.
The Owls put together a couple of opportunities for themselves but came up empty at the end of the first half. 15 minutes into the second half, the Bengals scored again, and yet again six minutes after to go up 3-0. The Owls' opportunities were few and far between the rest of the way, as UMFK showed their experience and familiarity throughout the game.
Top Performers:
The Owls were paced offensively by midfielder Ayden Burnett who played all 90 minutes and put up a pair of shots, one of which was on target. Andrew Morales came off the bench for 63 minutes and put the only other shot on target of the night for UMPI. Isaac Doore, Jovain Barrett, and Ranger Morton all had a shot as well. In Goal, freshman Christo Veselinovic was sharp, making five saves on the night.
Next Up:
The Owls will hit the road this weekend to play a pair of non-conference games out of state. They will first face New England College of Henniker, New Hampshire, on Saturday at noon, before heading to Milton, Massachusetts to play Curry College on Sunday at noon.
