Box Score
Morris, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Morris men's soccer team played even for 86 minutes with St. Scholastica today (Oct. 17), but an 87th minute goal from the Saints, did in the Cougars as they fell 1-0.
The match-up featured the top two teams in the UMAC, and it lived up to the billing. An intense, high paced, physical, well played match ensued with the deciding goal not coming until the there were under four minutes to play.
Minnesota, Morris (8-4-3, 7-2-1 UMAC) struggled to get things going offensively for much of the match, and finished with one of their lowest totals of the season with just three shots. Much of the play happened in the Cougar zone, with defense coming up big, time and time again and forcing the Saints into bad shots. Of the 28 shots taken by St. Scholastica on the day, only eight were on frame.
Cougar goalkeeper Tyler Simpson (Broomfield, Colo.) was his usual self between the pipes, stopping seven shots – some from point-blank range – and defending against eight corners and numerous crossers.
Before scoring the winning goal, a foul call on the Cougars just outside the penalty box gave the Saints a free kick from 25 yards out. The St. Scholastica (12-3-1, 9-0-1 UMAC) attempt brushed off the shoulder of the end-man on the Cougars' wall and seemed destined for the goal. Simpson then made one of his biggest saves of the day, punching the ball over the cross bar, preserving the tie for another moment.
As the Saints' shots continued to mount, the pressure finally overcame the Cougar defense, with the winning goal at 86:16. It was then that St. Scholastica's Jermaine Dacres took a shot from the left side of the goal that made it past Simpson on its way to the back right corner of the net.
A crossing pass from Greg Doornick set up the play as the Cougars found themselves trailing with just 3:42 left.
Matt Vik (St. Paul, Minn.) notched the Cougars only shot on goal of the day, as the front line found their chances few and far between. On the other end, the back line of Ryan Cadigan (Sedona, Ariz.), Kevin Haider (Monticello, Minn.), Ben Shabb (Grand Forks, N.D.) and Scott DeVries (Maple Grove, Minn.) were kept busy, but were up to the task, continually turning away CSS chances.
The Cougars now sit two games back in the win column from the unbeaten and first place Saints with four games left in the season. Hot on UMM's heels in third place is Northwestern, whom the Cougars match up next with, traveling to St. Paul for a 1:30 p.m. tilt on Oct. 22.
It was also senior day out at Cougar Field as Simpson, Jeff Lind (Robbinsdale, Minn.) and Chris Blahna (Sartell, Minn.) all played their final home game.
