FINAL SCORE: #18 UMass Lowell 2, Vermont 1
LOWELL, Mass. – The 18th-ranked UMass Lowell River Hawks scored a goal in the final five minutes to sink the Vermont Catamounts with a 2-1 America East loss on Wednesday night at Cushing Field.
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Vermont drops to 9-4-1 overall on the year and 1-2-1 in conference. No. 18 UMass Lowell keeps its unbeaten streak alive with a 9-0-2 overall record and 2-0-1 in America East.
"I thought we played a smart game. We had opportunities to take points tonight from a good team and struggled to make the plays to finish the job. I was proud to battle back from being down a goal, but UMass Lowell ultimately deserves the credit and the points as they finished the game on the right foot," head coach Jesse Cormier stated after the tough loss.
The River Hawks struck first in the 25th minute off an unfortunate break for the Catamounts. UMass Lowell set up a free kick from about 25 yards out and bent an attempt to the far post. Vermont keeper Aron Runarsson came out and punched the attempt away, but the ball deflected off the chest of Wuilito Fernandes and into the net for his eighth goal of the season.
Jon Arnar Barðdal l tied the game at 1-1 in the 77th minute for Vermont. Jackson Dayton set up the goal by passing off to his left to Barödal. The freshman dribbled on the edge of the 18-yard box and lined a left-footed shot into the near side of the goal for his first-career score.
UMass Lowell answered with its own collegiate first nearly 10 minutes later. In the 86th minute, the Catamounts' defense evaded a pair of dangerous crosses but couldn't knock away the third one. Federico Ferre lofted a cross from the corner flag into the six-yard box. As the cross came into the box, Joe Kellett stuck his head out past the Vermont defense and scored the eventual game-winning goal for the River Hawks.
As the Catamounts pushed the tempo in the final minutes, Bernard Yeboah had a chance to push the game into an extra period. Yeboah jumped up for a header after receiving a bouncing cross, but his attempt landed in the hands of River Hawks keeper Austin Kroll (4 saves).
Vermont returns home on Saturday night to host Hartford (4-5-3, 0-0-2) at 7 p.m. under the lights of Virtue Field. Tickets are available at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Box Office on gameday. Free live video is available in HD via AmericaEast.TV.
