Men's Soccer Comes Up Short Versus Presque-Isle
September 1, 2012

Men's Soccer Comes Up Short Versus Presque-Isle

Newton and Fisher-Byrne Score in 3-2 Loss

Box Score Box Score Box Score

(Randolph Center, VT) -- In an exciting, yet ultimately disappointing, contest to begin the season the Knights of Vermont Tech fell on a late goal to the University of Maine Presque-Isle by the final score of 3-2.

Brandon Caverhill (So./Caribou, ME) began the scoring for Presque-Isle at the 18:24 mark, followed less than four minutes later with a goal by Jeremy Tarr (Jr./Ashland, ME). The Owls held onto the 2-0 lead throughout an extremely hard-fought first half that saw some rough play, a number of fouls and a barrage of shots on the new goalie for Vermont Tech, Nate James (Sr./Arlington, VT). James did an admirable job in net for his first outing. In the end, he turned away all but three of the 24 total shots from UMPI, 15 in the first half alone, with 16 of those being on goal. In contrast, Vermont Tech took 14 total shots, with six being on goal and two finding the back of the net.

The second half began with some intense action, more physical play and the Knights making a run. Wellington Newton (So./Burlington, VT)utilized a beautiful pass from Hannes Fisher-Byrne (Jr./Strafford, VT) to get Vermont Tech on the board, making the deficit a mere one at 62:34. Less than two minutes later, at the 64:15 mark, Fisher-Byrne evened the match with a goal of his own on his fourth shot of the day. Fisher-Byrne took the initial shot from point blank range, the ball hit the post, Newton followed with the rebound and a shot, UMPI goalie Josh MacKinnon (Jr./Lismore, Nova Scotia) made the save, did not wrap up the ball and Fisher-Byrne finished off the assault putting the ball in the back of the net. The score was now tied 2-2.

Both teams upped the intensity quotient at this point, wtih Presque-Isle getting off three shots, two on goal, within the next few minutes and James making the saves. At the 78:55 mark emotions boiled over, and Brigham Reese (So./Canaan, VT) was issued a red card and sent to the bench for the rest of the game after a heated altercation with one of the UMPI Forwards. The Knights now had to play down one player for the rest of the game. The Owls took advantage of this situation and their newly found motivation to score the eventual winning goal at 80:27 to make the game 3-2. The goal was followed less than a minute later by a yellow card issued to MacKinnon, but this did not make a difference as the Knights were not able to mount another comeback or even get another shot on goal.

The Knights are now 0-1, 0-0, while the Owls are 1-0, 0-0. Vermont Tech next faces the College of St. Joseph's (VT) on the road. The match takes place in Rutland, VT on Saturday, September 8 at 4pm.