Oct. 31, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle men's soccer team had a strong chance to tie the game in the late minutes, but a breakaway goal with 24 seconds remaining in the game by UMass' Prince Ofosu dashed Explorer hopes as the Minutemen took a 2-0 decision on Friday night. The Explorers fall to 2-11-3 overall (1-4 Atlantic 10), while the Minutemen improve to 6-6-3 overall (4-1-1 Atlantic 10).

The Minutemen offense came out firing in the first half as they took seven straight shots to open the game. Among the shots was a goal from Ben Arikian, which proved to be the game winner. Arikian took a free kick, which he lofted just out of reach of Explorer keeper Kyle Quigley.

The Explorers came close to putting a score on the board when senior Jim Davis rocketed a shot toward the net that barely sailed wide.

Down 1-0 at the half, the Explorer offense turned on in the second half as they held a 5-4 shot advantage for the half. Brian Barry took two quick corner kicks, including a pass to Ryan Dougherty who shot the ball just wide. Momentum seemed to be shifting in favor of the Explorers in the waning minutes as the ball stayed in the Explorer end of the field for a majority of the last five minutes. However, a steal by Ofosu who then sprinted down the field for a breakaway goal with 24 seconds left sealed the game for the Minutemen.

The shot attack on both teams was balanced as no player for either team took more than two shots. Davis, Ryan Richter and Jim Guntle each shot two for the Explorers.

UMass' Zack Simmons is credited with the win in goal while making one save, and Kyle Quigley suffers the loss for the Explorers while stopping two shots.

The Explorers return to McCarthy Stadium for one last time this season on Sunday (11/2) for a Senior Day game against Rhode Island at 1:00 PM. The senior class will be honored in a pre-game ceremony starting at approximately 12:40 PM.