CASTINE, Maine – The Maine Maritime Academy men's soccer team dominated possession and scoring chances throughout Saturday night's North Atlantic Conference quarterfinal, finally breaking through in the closing minutes following senior
Mason Quiets's penalty kick goal for a 1-0 victory over Vermont State University Johnson at Ritchie Field.
The Mariners controlled play from the opening whistle, outshooting the Badgers 31-6 and holding a 12-3 advantage in shots on goal, while earning nine corner kicks. Despite the lopsided statistics, Maine Maritime was repeatedly denied by VTSU-Johnson goalkeeper Zane Cooper, who turned aside 11 shots to keep the visitors in the match.
Maine Maritime generated quality opportunities all evening. Senior
Hunter Crea and sophomore
Piercen Fisher paced the attack with five shots apiece, while sophomore
Connor Butler, freshman
Garrett Loyd, sophomore
Carson Luedtke, and freshman
Seamus MacDonald consistently pressured the Badger defense. The Mariners were inches away from breaking the deadlock several times, striking the woodwork on three separate occasions.
The breakthrough finally came in the 84th minute. After sustained pressure deep in the attacking third, Maine Maritime earned a penalty kick when a foul in the box resulted in a yellow card. Quiet stepped to the spot and buried the attempt at 83:10, giving the Mariners a deserved 1-0 lead.
While the attack carried the play, the Mariners were equally strong defensively. Senior goalkeeper
Reagan Moynihan made three saves and recorded the shutout, while the back line limited VTSU-Johnson to just six shots over the full 90 minutes.
Maine Maritime continued to press after taking the lead, creating several additional scoring chances in the final minutes before closing out the victory.
The Mariners return to action on Wednesday on the road against No. 2 Husson University in the NAC semifinal beginning at 6:30 p.m.
