Massachusetts Opens 2026 Campaign With 2-2 Draw Over No.10 Bryant

Team	1	2	Final F
Massachusetts	1	1	2
Bryant	0	2	2

Massachusetts

Bryant

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — The Minutemen (0-0-1) narrowly upset No. 10 Bryant to open the 2026 campaign, drawing 2-2 on the road on a rainy Thursday evening.

Senior midfielder Shane Velez and graduate Sebastian Weitlaner each netted goals for UMass, and first-year midfielder David Street and transfer Henry Hutchinson both tallied assists.

Junior goalkeeper Dean Linden was a force in net, saving seven of the nine Bulldog shots on goal.

Breaking Down the Action

In less than a minute of game time, Dean Linden saved two goals, the first being a fully-extended diving stop to his left side with 24:12.
With 23:24 remaining in the half, Linden punch a Bryant shot off the cross bar and later clearing the ball to keep the Bryant offense from striking.
Sebastian Weitlaner threatened to net his first goal in the Maroon and White, splitting a pair of Bulldogs to set up a left footed shot, but was narrowly blocked with 24:06 remaining.
The Minutemen struck first with a header from Shane Velez off a cross feed from Henry Hutchinson with 25:04 remaining in the opening half.
Bryant opened the second half with a quick header from Angel Perez off a feed from Fermin Rodriguez to tie the game at 1-0 off a corner in the 46th minute.
Massachusetts fended off consecutive corners in the 38th minute, capped off by an athletic save from Linden.
With 30:52 remaining in the contest, Bryant worked a one-on-one opportunity, but a high shot over the crossbar kept the contest knotted at one.
The Bulldogs nearly gained the lead with a with 21:39 remaining in the contest, as a left footed cross found the joint of the crossbar and post.
In the 75th minute, David Street snuck by the defense and found himself open, but narrowly missed right.
Linden made yet another impressive save, diving to his left to halt a header attempt in the 77th minute.
Weitlaner connected on a left-footed bar-down goal off a beautiful feed from Street to give the Minutemen the lead in the 78th minute.
With 5:23 remaining in the contest, a VAR review deemed Massachusetts fouled in the box, awarding a penalty kick. Despite Linden getting a hand on the shot, Bryant's Brady Geho tied the game back up at two.
Neither team could get in an offensive flow, ending the contest in a 2-2 draw

Up Next
Massachusetts returns to Rudd Field to take on No. 24 UConn in Amherst, Mass. on Sunday, Aug. 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with action streaming on MidcoSports+.

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