PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Homecoming weekend was a successful one for the University of Maine at Presque Isle soccer teams as they were able to sweep past Unity in the Saturday doubleheader played at Park Family Field.
The UMPI women won in dramatic fashion by scoring the game-winning goal with time winding down for a 2-1 victory over the Unity Rams.
The Lady Owls, now 2-5-1, took the lead early. In the first minute, Sam Nadeau, a junior from St. David, set up Carla Halvorson, a senior from Easton, for an opportunity from the right side. Halvorson’s attempt deflected off a defender and turned into a high arcing shot that sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net. The two teams traded opportunities throughout the half, but neither could connect, and the game went to intermission with the home team leading 1-0.
The UMPI squad had many more opportunities in the second half, outshooting the Rams by a 15-5 margin. However, Unity was the team finding the net first. In the 62nd minute, Samantha Jalkowski connected for a goal to knot the score.
The teams then traded opportunities and it looked as though this match was destined for overtime, but a controversial play with time winding down changed that. The Owls threatened and a loose ball in front of the net concluded with the Unity keeper and an Owls player colliding. With the keeper on the ground tangled with other players, the ball squirted towards the center of the goal and Nadeau took advantage. She fired the ball into the back of the net with just 26 seconds remaining.
Despite protests from Unity, the goal stood and the Rams’ last gasp effort would be smothered by keeper Allie Lopez, a junior from Kingfield, and the Owls secured the victory.
UMPI wrapped up its home schedule Tuesday by hosting UM-Machias at the Gehrig Johnson Athletic Complex.
The Owl men (3-6-1) shut out a team for the third consecutive matchup, defeating the Unity Rams (2-5-1) 2-0 in the 2016 Homecoming matchup.
Derek Healy, a senior from Hanover, Mass., connected on a goal in seventh minute to put the Owls (3-6-1) up early. In the 42nd minute, Cody Blair, a sophomore from Ashland, found Healy on a breakaway to set up his second goal of the game. UMPI took that 2-0 lead into the half.
Unity tallied eight shots on goal for the game, but was unable to connect on any of the opportunities. The Owls controlled the pace for the most part, outshooting the Rams 23-13 on the game. AJ Dolley, a senior from Whiting, recorded six saves and was credited with the shutout in net for the Owls.
Prior to the game, UMPI’s head coach, Alan Gordon, was honored for his years of commitment to the Owls program. An alumni group of players arranged for a special plaque that was presented to him in honor of his 25 years of coaching the Owl men.
UMPI hosted UM-Machias in its home finale on Tuesday afternoon at the Johnson Athletic Complex.
