Owls face trouble, drop weekend games

5 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The University of Maine at Presque Isle men’s and women’s soccer teams came out of road trip action the weekend of Oct. 12 and 13 with two losses each, falling to North Atlantic Conference foes at SUNY Delhi and SUNY Canton. 

On Saturday, the Lady Owls lost to Delhi 4-1 in a regular-season matchup.  The Broncos scored 23 seconds into the game and added three more goals in the first half to take a 4-0 at the break, according to Mark Knight, UMPI sports information director.

UMPI scored one goal at the 68-minute mark and held the Broncos scoreless in the second half.  The Owls’ lone goal was scored by Hannah Nadeau (sophomore, Madawaska), assisted by Alexis Rodriguez (freshman, Caribou).  The Owls had eight shots on the game.  Savannah Rodriguez (freshman, Presque Isle) made eight saves on 12 shots on goal.

The Owls dropped to 6-3-2 overall and 2-2-1 within conference play.  Delhi improved to 6-5-1 overall and 3-2 within NAC play. 

The UMPI men were unable to get into the scoring column as the Broncos defeated them 4-0. 

The Broncos had a balanced attack, Knight said, scoring two goals in the first half and two goals in the second half.  Keith Mank (freshman, Raymond) made nine saves on 13 shots on goal.  The Owls struggled to find scoring opportunities as they recorded three shots in the first half and four shots in the second.

The men fell to 6-5 overall on the season and 1-4 within NAC play.  SUNY-Delhi improved to 6-6 overall and 4-1 in conference play.   

Both teams traveled to Canton to play the SUNY Canton Roos, and both lost 2-1 in their respective contests.

The women’s game finished in double overtime, with Canton taking the win with an overtime goal early in the second overtime.

Knight said Canton started aggressively with 13 shots in the first half compared to UMPI’s one, but the second half was a different story as the Owls attempted eight shots compared to the Roos’ two. The Owls’ only goal was contributed by Nadeau early in the second half, which tied the game 1-1. She was assisted by Marissa Valdivia Reagle (junior, Seattle).

That tie put the game into overtime play. The first overtime was all defense with no shots by either team, but the second overtime saw the game-winning Canton goal. Savannah Rodriguez spent the game in the goal and ended with nine saves on the day.

The results brought UMPI to 6-4-2 in the regular season and 2-2-1 in the NAC. Canton improved to 4-8-1, 3-3-1 in the NAC.

In men’s action, Mank played well early with six saves in the first half, three coming in the first 15 minutes of the match. 

Knight said the Roos really pressured UMPI early with 10 shots in the first half. All seven on goal were saved, compared to the Owls’ zero shots. In Owls offense, Hunter Wardwell (freshman, Mars Hill) came up with the goal, his sixth on the season. Dakota Patterson (sophomore, Burnham) received the assist. Canton continued to maintain possession of the ball for the majority of the remaining minutes of the game, ending the match with 23 shots to UMPI’s four. Mank finished with 14 saves on the game. 

UMPI stands now at 6-6 on the regular season and 1-5 in the NAC. Canton improved to 6-6-2 and 4-3 in the NAC.

The squads will head home to UMPI to host non-conference opponent Fisher College starting at 12 noon on Sunday, Oct. 20.