Connector Editor
To say the River Hawks men’s soccer team deserved to win their 3-2 overtime bout against Bryant University on Wednesday night would be an absurd understatement.
A couple of questionable calls by the officials turned what should have been a two-goal cushion into a one-goal deficit late in the second half for the home team. The River Hawks controlled play for the majority of the contest. To their credit, Bryant, who had won the previous two matchups between these teams by one-goal margins, refused to let UMass Lowell build any sort of scoring momentum.
“They’re always a tough group that we’ve seen over the years even before the transition,” said UMass Lowell Coach Christian Figueroa. “They grind out results, and we knew that we needed to come out here and want it more than they did.”
Bryant came into the matchup with a clear intent to slow the pace of play. The River Hawks, however, were unfazed. It was a dominating first half performance for the home team, as the squad displayed their superior athleticism. It seemed as though the River Hawks were first to every loose ball and they continuously blew by Bryant defenders to set up numerous cross chances.
The night, however, belonged to Gui Rodrigues. With 5:50 remaining in the first overtime, Rodrigues gained control of a long pass and dribbled his way to the middle of the field. He had running mate Wulito Fernandes to his right, but found himself in too good of a position to pass up the shot. A beautiful strike from the top of the circle curled its way perfectly into the far right corner of the net, sealing the victory for the River Hawks.
“They were really giving me that side the entire game, and I was able to beat them most of the time,” said Rodrigues. “I saw that ball with the time winding down. It’s overtime, I was just gonna take it. I read what [the defender] gave to me, took it inside and picked my corner.”
The goal was Rodrigues’ first of the season, and it sent a packed UMass Lowell crowd at Cushing Field into a frenzy. Fans who, for 95 minutes, had to watch their team unexpectedly grind for a win, now joined the celebration as the team swarmed around him.
Rodrigues not only sealed the contest for the River Hawks, but also made sure the team advanced the contest to extra time. With 4:19 to play in the second half, Rodrigues burned his defender chasing down a deep pass on the left side of the field. The Bryant defender had no chose but to shove Rodrigues in the box, resulting in a penalty kick that was put home by junior midfielder Carlos Ruiz.
“Earlier in the game I tried to beat him inside, and I lost the ball,” said Rodrigues on the penalty draw. “This time I tried to change it up a little. I went outside, and that’s when he tripped me.”
The River Hawks found themselves having to tie the game late after a simple pass was misplayed by goalkeeper Austin Kroll, which led to an own goal. Kroll made a sensational effort to track the loose ball down and seemingly made a diving kick to keep it out of the net. However, a side judge made a tough call from a difficult angle, and declared the ball to have crossed the line.
This questionable own goal gave Bryant a 2-1 lead, but should have been a tying goal. Midway through the first half, forward Edward Venta-Yepes made a gorgeous cross that Fernandes had no problem finishing. The goal, however, was disallowed on a generous offside call for the Bryant Bulldogs.
Freshman workhorse Chase Reichenberg had a milestone night in his young River Hawks career. With 30 minutes left in the first half, the 6’3” Germany-native slammed a rebound into the back of the net past Bryant keeper Chris Knaub. The goal came off of a corner that was headed by Fernandes. Knaub made the initial save, but stood no chance against the foot of Reichenberg.
The win was nothing short of massive for the River Hawks. It marked the first time this season the squad has won two straight games. The team now has one more matchup against Boston University on Wednesday, Sept. 30 before they bring their current 5-3 record into conference play. This record is an impressive mark that has been achieved by a great team effort and the infectious positive attitude of players like Rodrigues.
“He’s really coming into his own this year, he’s done the best he’s ever done here,” said Coach Figueroa on Rodrigues. “His positive attitude and mentality is so different then it was a year ago. He knows that, he sees that and it’s obviously translated into his play.”
