Thomas & Maine Maritime Advance to NAC Semifinal Round
WATERVILLE, Maine - Top-seeded Thomas College and #2 Maine Maritime Academy advanced to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Men's Soccer Tournament semifinal round with winning performances in quarterfinal action at the Terriers'
Bernatchez and Smith Turf Complex on Saturday.
#1 THOMAS 1, #4 HUSSON 1 (Thomas advances in PK's, 4-3)
(BOX SCORE) The Terriers started the game strong, generating an early shot that tested the Eagles goalkeeper and saw Jamie Fischer make two critical breakaway saves to keep the score level. In the 27th minute, Micky Woodrow set up Joshua Joseph, who fired the ball into the net to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead. Although the Eagles quickly equalized with a penalty kick strike from Mario Alvarez in the 35th minute, both teams went into halftime tied and eager to seize control.
The second half turned into a defensive standoff, with only one shot on goal—a 74th-minute attempt by Joseph that was saved by Eagles goalkeeper Samuel Bermudez. After a scoreless second half, the game moved into extra time, where Fischer again came up big with two crucial saves in the 99th minute, leading to a second overtime. Despite efforts from both sides, neither team could break the deadlock, and the match progressed to a shootout.
In the shootout, Fischer made two impressive saves, while Joseph, Tre Burgess, and Woodrow scored on their attempts. The final shot fell to Andrew Hodgins, who calmly placed the ball into the net, securing a thrilling playoff victory for the Terriers.
Fischer and Bermudez made six saves apiece in the thrilling NAC tourney matchup.
With the win, the Terriers advance to face the #2 Maine Maritime Academy Mariners on Sunday, November 3rd at 4:00 PM.
#2 MAINE MARITIME 3, #3 UMAINE-FARMINGTON 1
(BOX SCORE) The Beavers created the game's first chance in the 13th minute when Abdilahi Abdi connected with a cross at the back post, but Mariner goalkeeper Reagan Moynihan easily saved his low-powered shot. After Farmington initially controlled possession, Maine Maritime shifted the momentum, taking the lead in the 34th minute as Garrison Fisher struck a right-footed shot from outside the box into the top-left corner, beyond Jackson Leach’s reach.
Entering the second half with a 1-0 deficit, the Beavers showed urgency. Mohamed Adow found William Dowse, who skillfully split two defenders and laid off the ball to a wide-open Abdi, who slotted it into the net to equalize. The Mariners responded quickly, as Ronnie Morgan’s cross found John-John Dickenson, who dove to head it in, restoring their lead at 2-1 with just over 30 minutes to play.
In a tense final stretch, Farmington nearly equalized in the 85th minute when Jack Luciano’s header off a free kick hit the crossbar. In the last minute, Gabriel Toledo was fouled in the box and converted the penalty, giving the Mariners a 3-1 victory over the Beavers.
The Beavers had slight advantages in shots (15-11) and shots on goal (7-6), while the Mariners led in corner kicks, 5-3.
Leach made two saves in the loss for the Beavers, while Moynihan recorded six saves to earn the victory for Maine Maritime.