BANGOR- Matthew McCord scored 2:16 into double overtime on Saturday afternoon, leading the SUNY Poly Wildcats to a 2-1 comeback victory over Husson University in the North Atlantic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship game at Boucher Field.
Husson broke the ice to take the lead in the 21st minute of the first half. Ben Shumway lofted a ball ahead to Florian Gasser on the right hand side just inside the 18. Gasser knocked it down to control it, took two steps towards the middle and would beat SUNY Poly goalie Ryan Primus. The visitors didn’t take long to equalize. Pedro Molina would commit a foul inside the penalty area in the 28th minute against Jhonny Theze, and the Wildcats were awarded a penalty shot. Theze would covert, beating Alex Rechsteiner to his left just inside the far post. Both teams had some chances in the second half, but no Grade A opportunities as it stayed tied through the end of regulation. After a scoreless first extra session, SUNY Poly got awarded a corner kick early in the second overtime after a yellow card on Alejandro Mora. Thomas Nimineh took the corner, and McCord would get in front and knock it in for the game winner past Rechsteiner for his first goal of the season. Husson had one more last ditch effort with a corner of their own with about 1:30 left, but Molina would hit the crossbar as it stayed out and the Wildcats escaped with the title.
Rechsteiner made seven saves for Husson in the loss. The Eagles season that included the East Division Title comes to an end with a final record of 13-5-3. Primus made three saves in the win for SUNY Poly, who improved to 13-5-1 and will await word on where they’re headed for the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
Recap/photos/video by Chris Lessner
