UMass Battles Back vs. Terriers

Overcome Two Deficits to Steal Game in OT Thriller

September 2, 2008

BOSTON - In front of a Boston University school-record 5,935 fans at Nickerson Field, the No. 13 UMass men's soccer team overcame two deficits to force double overtime before Ben Arikian’s golden goal captured a 3-2 UMass win over the Terriers.

UMass senior Pricne Ofosu tallied both regulation goals - his first multi-goal game, while redshirt senior goalkeeper Zack Simmons (Durham, N.H.) nearly matched his career-high with 11 saves in the game.

UMass' Prince Ofosu scored twice against the Terriers. (Photo source: UMass Athletics)

The Terriers struck first in the 25th minute when Aaron O'Neal placed a shot to the upper left side of the goal after receiving a cross from Hanover, Mass. native Ryan Shea.

Ofosu answered in the 39th minute after sophomore Stuart Amick played a ball from the left flank to the midfield. Ofosu took the ball just over midfield evading three defenders before poking a shot past a diving BU keeper Hrafn Davidsson.

O'Neal then set up the second go-ahead goal in the 80th minute when he slid a pass to Ben Berube who stuck a shot through traffic and past a diving Simmons for a 2-1 Terrier advantage.

The Minutemen sent the game to overtime when Ofosu poked home his second goal of the game with three seconds remaining in regulation. After a cross from the right flank landed in the box, a flurry of bodies crashed the goal with Ofosu knocking home the score from just inside the right post.

After a scoreless first overtime period, Arikian took the kick off to start the second period, dribbled past two defenders and loosed a shot from 25 yards out that deflected off a defender and into the bottom right corner of the goal for the game-winner.

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