UNH Beats UMass; Stays Unbeaten

Coleman Nets Game-Winner in 50th Minute

September 21, 2008

DURHAM, N.H. – Trailing, 1-0, the New Hampshire men’s soccer team scored two unanswered goals to defeat UMass, 2-1, on Saturday and remain undefeated on the season at 5-0-1.

Sean Coleman gave the Wildcats the game-winner in the 50th minute of play after he collected the rebound off a blocked Brad Hilton shot. Coleman sent a low line-dive towards the far left post that tucked just inside the bar.

UMass (2-3-1) senior midfielder Mike DeSantis (Stoneham, Mass.) tallied the Minutemen's lone goal in the 26th minute, but UNH scored goals in the 41st and 50th minutes of play for the win.

DeSantis scored the opening goal of the game, his first of the season, on a direct kick from sophomore midfielder Ben Arikian following a New Hampshire foul. Arikian served the ball towards the left post from 30 yards out but the pass was deflected off a Wildcat defender towards the right post. DeSantis managed to get a foot on the ball to slip it past UNH keeper Colin O'Donnell.

New Hampshire tied the game nearly 15 minutes later when Kyle Orso scored his third goal of the season on a free kick from 25 yards away following a UMass foul. His shot deflected off a UMass player and was redirected to the left post past an outstretched Zack Simmons (Durham, N.H.).

After Coleman put UNH ahead, the Minutemen nearly tied the game with one second remaining in regulation. Senior Prince Ofosu served a corner with 10 seconds to play finding DeSantis on the back right post. DeSantis headed a shot towards the goal that was blocked at the goal line by Hilton as time expired.

Simmons made five saves in goal for UMass, while O'Donnell made three.