Joshua Joseph, Stefan Simmons, Tre Burgess, and their Thomas College Men’s Soccer teammates fell short in a high scoring North Atlantic Conference Quarterfinal matchup 4 – 3 versus Husson University.
Husson University largely dominated the opening 10 minutes and took four shots, one of which needed to be saved by Thomas College goalkeeper Matthew Gosselin.
In the next six minutes Husson University would have five corner kicks, but the Thomas College defenders held strong to ensure the score stayed 0-0.
In the 17th minute, a Husson University shot from just inside the 18-yard box hit the right post, inches away from finding the back of the net.
Thomas College’s first shot of the game was in the 29th minute, when Joseph found a pocket of space, but the shot was saved by Eagle goalkeeper Alex Rechsteiner.
Thomas College had momentum for the next 10 minutes, with another shot from Joseph forcing another save out of Rechsteiner.
Husson University had another flurry of corner kicks in the 37th minute, taking three in under a minute. These corner kicks generated two shots, both of which were blocked by the Thomas College defense.
In the 41st minute, Husson University found the breakthrough. A centering pass found a Husson University forward, who placed the ball in the bottom right corner to take a 1-0 lead.
Husson University scored again two minutes later, with a long cross field pass finding a player to take a 2-0 lead over Thomas College.
With 10 seconds remaining in the first half, Julen Zuidervaart had a free kick in a dangerous position. Zuidervaart curled the ball over the Husson University wall, and the shot found the top right corner to give Thomas College some life.
Husson University came out of the second half on a mission and scored yet again in the 46th minute to take a 3-1 lead.
In the next 20 minutes Husson University were limited to only two shots, thanks to some good defending from Thomas College.
In the 65th minute, Zuidervaart had another free kick in a similar location. Zuidervaart passed the ball to Micky Woodrow, who laid it off to Simmons, who slotted the ball into the back of the net to make the game 3-2.
Husson University once again responded and scored two minutes later to take back their two-goal lead.
Neither team could generate any quality chances until the 84th minute, when a Thomas College penalty kick was saved by Rechsteiner to keep Husson University in the game.
Thomas College weren't done yet though, as in the 87th minute Joseph sent in a perfect cross to Carter Pelletier, whose diving header found the back of the net to make the score 4-3.
Husson University were able to see out the remaining three minutes to advance to the NAC Men's Soccer Semi-Finals.
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