UMass, BU Men Draw Even

State Rivals Play 3rd OT Game in Last 5 Meetings

Sept. 2, 2009

AMHERST, Mass. -- The Boston University men’s soccer team scored a second half equalizer against Massachusetts to leave Rudd Field Tuesday afternoon with a 1-1 draw in the season opener for both teams.

BU’s Shaun Taylor tied the score inside the left post off an assist from Aaron O’Neal in the 66th minute.

After having several opportunities in the first half to take the lead, the defending Atlantic-10 regular season champion Minutemen finally broke through at 42:51. The lone goal was a result of Sam DeNormandie heading in off a “flip throw” from Lehigh transfer Mark Dangleis.

Both goalkeepers made several impressive saves with the Terriers’ Hrafn Davidsson recording six and UMass’ Chris Piekos posting seven.

BU was unlucky early in the contest, when Ben Berube placed a perfect cross near the corner into the box for freshman Ade Akinsanya to head in for the goal. Akinsanya was called offside on the play, however, nullifying the score.

UMass had its first big opportunity at 5:01 when Stuart Amick found a loose ball inside the box following a free kick from Ben Arikian. He attempted a shot through the crowd of players, but Hrafn Davidsson was in perfect position to make the save.

In the 27th minute, UMass had another chance when Mark DeSantis ran up the field on a fast break toward the box. While getting around the lone defender in his way, the ball went ahead a few yards, allowing Davidsson to get in position for the point blank save off a rushed attempt by DeSantis.

In the game’s second overtime, the Terriers came close to getting revenge on UMass for last year’s double overtime loss at Nickerson Field with a four-shot barrage.

In the 104th minute, Berube rifled an attempt from several yards out toward the top corner of the near post, but Piekos made a brilliant diving save. During the scramble, Akinsanya, Michael Bustamante and Samuel Appiah all attempted shots with Piekos making saves on the first two.

Chris Roswess gave the Minutemen a bid for the win in the 109th minute on a counter-attack after DeSantis carried the ball up the left flank and sent into the middle of the 18-yard box. Ben Arikian chested a pass to a trailing Roswess who sent a low screamer on frame, but Davidsson made a diving save to deny.

BU’s draw snapped a three-game losing streak to the Minutemen and marked the third overtime contest in the last five games between the two in-state rivals.

The Terriers next travel to Storrs, Conn., to face off against 12th-ranked Connecticut Saturday at 8 p.m. UMass will head to Hartford on Saturday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.