On Sunday morning at Leib Field UMaine-Farmington and SUNY Canton fought in a competitive, physical, back and forth game. Despite falling behind 1-0 late in the first half, the Beavers came out in the second half strong, scoring two straight goals and played solid defense the rest of the way to hold on for the 2-1 win.
The two teams didn't bother to ease into the game and feel one another out at all. The game began with rapid, back and forth play as each team saw numerous great opportunities. The Kangaroos got the first chance of the game in the fourth minute when they had a shot blocked that would bounce right to sophomore Dylan Vanderpool (Caldwell, Idaho) who rocketed one off the crossbar. The pace would not slow down as Canton would get three more shots off in the next four minutes, two of which forced Beaver goalkeeper Jonah Sautter (Lisbon, Maine) to make saves on.
After the initial surge from the Kangaroos, the Beavers would settle down and create many of their own great chances. In the 11th minute senior forward Yusuf Mohamed (Lewiston, Maine) would have a great chance to score off a through ball from Cassidy Pound (Montville, Maine) that sent Mohamed in alone with Canton's goalkeeper Owen Kwong (Staten Island, N.Y.). Kwong raced off his line to make the sliding save on Mohamed and maintain the tie.
Two minutes later, after a misplay by the Kangaroos in their defensive half of the field with Kwong off his line, Pound and Mohamed had a two on one. Pound lofted a pass to Mohamed who headed it on net but Canton defender Chris Cook (Chateaugay, N.Y.) would make a defensive save to keep the ball out of the net.
The Beavers would have another good chance to score in the 24th minute as sophomore Zach Chaisson (Scarborough, Maine) would ring the crossbar.
The Kangaroos would break the tie in the 38th minute as they were awarded a penalty kick after the Beavers were called for a handball in the box. Martin Torales (White Plain, N.Y.) lined up to take the kick for the Kangaroos. Torales sent a shot low and hard to the left of Sautter, who dove and deflected the ball off the post and in giving Canton the 1-0 lead.
The lead would stay at one into the second half. In the 53rd minute the Beavers were awarded a free kick around midfield. Junior defender Will Dowse (Sherborn, Mass.) lofted one high into the box that bounced a couple times before junior Coleman Watson (Readfield, Maine) volleyed one past Kwong to tie the game. The goal from Watson was the first of his career.
The Beavers would grab the lead just seven minutes later. Dowse won the ball for the Beavers in their defensive zone who found Chaisson on the sideline around midfield. Chaisson drove hard down the sideline and into the box before firing a shot that would deflect off a Canton defender. After the deflection, the ball popped directly in the air and drifted over the head of Kwon into the back of the net.
The Beavers would withstand some pressure from the Kangaroos in the final ten minutes to secure the win and improve to 3-2-1 and 2-1 in conference. Canton would fall to 3-6 and 2-1 in conference.
The Kangaroos would hold a 16-12 advantage in shots while both teams had six shots on goal and eight corner kicks.
UP NEXT
The Beavers host Lesley at Leib Field on Wednesday, September 28th. Game time is set for 4 PM.
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