Nov. 16, 2008

MANCHESTER, NH (Nov. 16, 2008) – Junior M Jhony Valencia (Lowell, MA) and freshman M Mateus Candido (Lowell, MA) each notched goals 7:28 apart in the first half as No. 4 UMass Lowell defeated No. 1 Southern New Hampshire, 2-1, in the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Tournament East Region Semifinal at George J. Larkin Field.

With the victory, the River Hawks (13-3-4) move on to the East Region final where they will visit No. 2 Dowling College in Brentwood, NY, next weekend at a time to be determined. Dowling was a 3-1 winner over No. 6 Franklin Pierce.

Southern New Hampshire caps its season with a 15-3-4 record.

Candido gave the River Hawks a 1-0 edge in the 23rd minute when Penmen goalkeeper Sean Lambert thwarted an attempt from senior Matt Dubois (Dracut, MA), only for Candido to bundle home from close range.

Just over seven minutes later, Valencia gave the River Hawks a 2-0 cushion when he took a ball from senior M Matias Pietropinto (Leominster, MA), and curled a shot from the top right corner of the box inside the left post.

The Penmen nearly cut the lead in half in the 41st minute when an attempt by junior D Richard Kentish was denied by the post.

Southern New Hampshire, however, pressured throughout the second half – outshooting the River Hawks 8-0 – only for it to pay off just 42 seconds from time. Senior G Ryan Richards (Holden, MA) stopped an attempt by senior D Matt Delaney, only for junior F Paulson Edum to pounce on the rebound to cut the lead in half.

The Penmen outshot UMass Lowell 14-7 overall and 6-4 on target. Richards had five saves while Lambert stopped two shots.

NCAA Tournament East Region Semifinal
UMass Lowell 2, Southern New Hampshire 1
At Manchester, NH

Team     Goal     Assist(s)     Time
UML     Matheus Candido     Matt Dubois     23rd
UML     Jhony Valencia     Matias Pietropinto     30th
SNHU     Paulson Edum     Matt Delaney, Jamie Phillips     90th

Goalkeepers
Sean Lambert (SNHU): 2 saves, 90:00
Ryan Richards (UML): 5 saves, 90:00