PRESQUE ISLE, ME
The UMPI men's soccer team took to the field for the third time this season, but for the first time at home. They hosted Fisher College, a team that always seems to match up fairly evenly with UMPI, as was the case on Sunday.
3-1 Falcons:
The first 30 seconds of this game set the tone for how the rest of the game would be, and can be summed up in a single word: physical. The teams battled back and forth throughout the first 30 minutes before First-year keeper Brett Senal drilled a punt that flew at least two thirds the length of the field. Star Boma fielded it and took advantage of the counter-attack as Fisher back pedaled. Boma nailed a low ball to the far post and in as Fisher's keeper came out, sending a bolt of energy through the UMPI crowd that had been held relatively quiet throughout the afternoon. The Owls were on top 1-0 and suddenly had the lead.
That elation wouldn't last long however, as Fisher answered right away with one of the wilder goals you'll see. Off a corner-kick, Alejandro Granados settled it and took a shot. It ricocheted off an UMPI defender which looked like it would end the threat. The ball glanced off the defender at just the right trajectory, (or wrong, depending on who you were pulling for) and then glanced off the far post at just the right angle, before crossing the line. Fisher took advantage of the corner kick and a couple fortuitous bounces as the double-ricochet tied the game up at 1.
The first half ended at 1-1, before Fisher created some more chaos less than two minutes into the second half. A foul inside the 18 yard box gave Fisher a penalty kick. Giacoma Tomasina capitalized and drilled the kick just out of reach of the diving Brett Senal. The PK gave Fisher a 2-1 lead. They held momentum for the next few minutes until the 54th minute when the Falcons tacked on a third goal, which was the eventual fatal blow.
The Owls continued to battle throughout the second half but could never capitalize on any more opportunities they got, as the Falcons prevailed by a score of 3-1.
Top Performers:
The aforementioned Star Boma was UMPI's goal scorer on this day, his first goal of the season and he finished the game with three shots total. Hayden Bay, and Billy Wray had UMPI's two other shots on goal, while Jovain Barrett and Isaac Doore also put up shots. All-in-all the Owls made eight shots as a team, to Fisher's 14. Goalkeeper Brett Senal had three saves on the day in net for the Owls.
Next Up:
The Owls drop to 1-2 and will continue their homestand with a mid-week matchup against U-Maine Augusta on Wednesday. That game is expected to kick off at 3pm.
