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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
New Hampshire
UMass Falls 1-0 To New Hampshire
September 20, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 20, 2006
Box Score | Photo Gallery
AMHERST, Mass. - New Hampshire's Chris Banks tallied his sixth goal of the season in the 54th minute to give the visiting Wildcats at 1-0 win over the UMass men's soccer team on Wednesday afternoon at Rudd Field. The loss was UMass' second consecutive and closed out the Minutemen's five-game home stand. UMass falls to 6-2-1 on the season, while New Hampshire improves 5-2-2 overall. UMass will head to Charlotte for its final non-conference game of the season this Saturday.
The game featured two of New England's top goalkeepers in UMass redshirt sophomore Zack Simmons (Durham, N.H.) and New Hampshire's Brian Levey. Simmons entered the match with a 0.24 goals against average, while Levey had a 0.58 average.
Both teams battled throughout the first half trading possessions with UNH holding the offensive advantage at the half. The Wildcats held a 5-to-0 edge in shots at the break.
New Hampshire picked up the offensive pressure to start the second half when Banks was able to get free for his 10-yard strike. After a failed clear by UMass, UNH was able get the ball into the middle of the 18-yard box. Matt Shump settled the ball and passed over to Banks who blasted a strike just inside the right goal post past Simmons.
The Minutemen tried to rally back finishing the second half with a 6-to-3 edge in shots, but were unable to connect.
Following an offsides call near midfield, UMass was able to strike the ball into its offensive zone where freshman Bryan Hogan (Lititz, Pa.) ripped a shot towards the right post with 29 seconds remainging in the game. Levey covered the side well, making the save and preventing what looked to be the game-tying goal.
Simmons made four saves in goal for UMass, while Levey stopped three - all in the second half.
"I did not think we played very well today," said head coach Sam Koch. "New Hampshire was able to finish on their opportunities and we were not. They did a good job at the end of defending and running down the clock."
UMass will return to action on Saturday when the Minutemen head to Charlotte. The game will be the final non-conference match of the season for UMass.
