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Slow Start Costs Maine Conference Win
Oct. 8, 2005
The University of Maine men's soccer team played 82 minutes of soccer on Saturday, October 8th against the Hartford Hawks on a miserable, rainy and cold day at Alumni field. The problem is that the game length is 90 minutes. The Hawks were able to score two goals in the first 8 minutes and then absorb 82 minutes of pressure by the Black Bears. With the loss Maine falls to 2-7-2 (0-2-2 America East) and Hartford improves to 5-5-2 (2-1-1 America East). In the fourth minute of play Keith Womack gave the Hawks the early lead when Kenniel Martin slipped a pass between the Black Bear defense. Womack slid the ball under senior goalkeeper Chad Mongeon (Essex Junction, Vermont) to make the score 1-0. At the eight minute mark, Hartford doubled their lead off a set piece. The ball was served in to the box to Nir Bublil who headed it down toward Mongeon's left post. Mongeon made the save, but the ball rebounded to a wide-open Ryan Cleverdon at the back post who easily doubled Hartford's lead From that point on, Maine took over the game and dominated play with countless chances to get on the board. Senior captain Ben Wilcox (Essex Junction, Vermont) finally cut the lead in half with a goal in the 26th minute. Sophomore forward Jimmy Velas (Falmouth, Maine) served in a great ball that skipped to Wilcox who buried the ball for his third goal of the season. The Black Bears began the second half the way they finished the first half - attacking. Time after time, the home fans thought the equalizer was coming. Near misses, posts, deflections and saves by Hartford's Ryan Carr kept the scoreline 2-1. The final shot tally was 18 to 10 with 13 on target for Maine to Hartford's two. Maine held the corner advantage 9 to 1. Both keepers made four saves. Maine will look to earn their first conference win on Saturday, October 15 when the Catamounts of Vermont visit Alumni field at 12:00 pm.
For more information go to www.GoBlackBears.com. |
