UMass Helps Koch Achieve Milestone

Minutemen Beat George Washington for Coach's 250th Win

October 27, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. – Goals from Stuart Thomson and Prince Ofosu helped UMass coach Sam Koch earn his 250th career victory in the Minutemen’s 2-0 win over George Washington on Sunday.

The win extended UMass’ (5-6-3, 3-1-1) unbeaten streak to four games and vaulted the team into second place in the Atlantic-10.

Sam Koch

UMass' Sam Koch earned his 250th career victory Sunday. (UMass Athletics)

George Washington (6-5-3, 2-2-2) was the also the victim of Koch’s 200th career win, a 3-0 triumph over the Colonials on Oct. 3, 2003 at Rudd Field. Koch is in his 18th year at UMass, is the all-time winningest coach in school history, and was a finalist for the NSCAA Coach of the Year in 2007.

Thomson put the Minutemen on the scoreboard first when he headed home the game's opening goal for his first career tally. Sophomore midfielder Ben Arikian sent a corner kick from the left flag towards the near post where Thomson redirected it to the right far post for the 1-0 lead.

Thomson's goal came three minutes after George Washington nearly scored the game's first goal. Yoni Berhanu took a short cross from Andy Stadler, the A-10's leading scorer this season, and shot towards the left post. His shot was on a wide open net after UMass keeper Zack Simmons (Durham, N.H.) missed intercepting the cross, but deflected off the post and was cleared away.

UMass midfielder Stuart Amick had an apparent goal two minutes later, but the play was ruled offsides.

Ofosu put home the insurance goal in the 42nd minute of play slipping a shot past Colonial keeper Matt Scheer. Junior forward Bryan Hogan created the opportunity winning a 50-50 ball near midfield and sending a pass down the right flank to midfielder Chris Vaccaro. Vaccaro hit a streaking Ofosu for the insurance goal.

Scheer made two saves in net, while Simmons was pressed to make just one for UMass.

Senior defender Chris Brown and senior midfielder Mike DeSantis (Stoneham, Mass.) also tied the school record on Sundy for games played with their 79th career matches. Brown has started every game of his career, while DeSantis has started 74 matches. The duo tied two-time All-American and UMass scoring leader Jeff Deren (Chicopee, Mass.).

For Simmons, the win was the 37th of his career and his 27th career shutout - both school records.

UMass will return to action next Friday at La Salle at 7 p.m.

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