Dowling men avenge last season's loss to UMass-Lowell at soccer-stadium opener, 1-0

By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

Shirley, L.I. -- Dowling College avenged one of three losses from last season as the men's team recorded a 1-0 victory over the University of Massachusetts-Lowell at the inaugural soccer game at the new stadium Thursday night.

Junior forward Lamine Traore broke a scoreless tie 58th minute to lift the ninth-ranked Golden Lions over the No. 17 River Hawks. Lowell had defeated Dowling in its second game in 2007, 3-2.

Defender Jamie Underwood started the game-winning goal's sequence by launching a long pass from the pass to an onrushing Traore. He beat Corey Samuelson and Asley Barrios and fired a shot that bounded off the right post and into the net. Traore scored only two goals in 14 games in 2007.

The Golden Lions almost doubled their lead only three minutes later, but goalkeeper Ryan Richards knocked away Steven Schenider's attempt before defender Mike Galvin cleared the ball.

Dowling goalkeeper Nemanja Veljovic preserved the lead for the hosts by punching away forward Matt Dubois' one-on-one attempt in the 69th minute.

The first half ended in a scoreless tie, but it wasn't because both teams weren't trying.

It was fast-paced game as both teams played "speed ball." That is, they used quick passing and fast-paced midfielders and forwards in an attempt to break down the opposing defense.

The Golden Lions used a combination of long and short passes to penetrate the UMass defense in the first half.

With the game barely two minutes old, the River Hawks almost drew first blood. Freshman midfielder Diego Tabares stripped Underwood of the ball at midfield and fed Dubois. Dubois raced into the penalty area as his eight-yard shot just missed the left far corner.

Dowling junior forward Lamine Traore had two scoring opportunities within a 29-second span in the opening half, but was unable to convert on either. His first attempt was a header that traveled wide right in the 10th minute. His second try was an eight-yard shot that looked dangerous, but also wound up right of the net and goalkeeper Ryan Richards.

Underwood had Richards dead to rights with a point-blank shot on the left side of the penalty area, but the keeper punched his shot out of harm's way in the 15th minute.

Dowling kept coming at Lowell as Richards slid to his left to snare Marcus Come's shot in the 21st minute. Three minutes later, Samba Traore headed the ball right to Richards.

Dubois again tried for a goal in the 27th minute, forcing Veljovic out of the net to the top right of the penalty area, but the forward's shot traveled wide right time time.

UMass continued to press and senior forward Matias Pietropinto almost scored in the 39th minute as his point-blank attempt from the right side of the box forced Veljovic to make a diving save to preserve the scoreless deadlock.