Box Score WATERVILLE, Maine—Freshman Ocane Williamson (Spanish Town, Jamaica) scored the second of his two goals in the 102nd minute, to lift UMass Boston men's soccer to a comeback victory over host Thomas College Monday night.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 3, Thomas College 2 (2OT)
(UMass Boston 3-0)
(Thomas College 0-1-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After initially whiffing on his first two shot attempts, Williamson calmly fired home a shot from inside the six-yard box to keep UMass Boston undefeated in 2016.
The reigning Little East Conference Rookie of the Week scored the game-tying and game-winning goals, to help UMass Boston knock off a Thomas College team that played in the NCAA Tournament last fall.
Junior Daniel Morales (San Diego, Calif) scored the other goal in the game for the Beacons, who found themselves trailing for the first time all season. Edmilson Barros (Praia, Cape Verde) and Guilherme Barbosa (Saugus, Mass.) each recorded assists in the victory.
Despite giving up his first two collegiate goals, Omar Castro-Dreher (Woonsocket, R.I.) put together the best game of his collegiate career. The freshman stopped a career-high six shots in the victory and was tested throughout the contest.
Willie Clemons paced the hosts with a goal and an assist, while Diondre Downling registered the other goal. In net for the Terriers, Joakim Sternas was charged with three goals allowed on six shots.
UMass Boston struck for an early 1-0 lead after some tic-toe-passing. Williamson, Joshua Khang (Brockton, Mass.) and Morales sent several short passes along the top of the 18-yard box, before Morales danced away from a defender, turned and blasted a shot past Sternas for his first goal as a Beacon.
The Terriers answered just before halftime, as Clemons fed Dowling for the equalizer just 33 seconds before the break.
Thomas shocked the Beacons and took a 2-1 advantage in the 74th minute, when Clemons scored off of a DJ Nicholas pass.
Williamson wouldn't be denied though. The freshman recorded his third goal in three collegiate games at 77:03, with Barbosa recording his first assist of the season.
Barbosa nearly won the game in the first overtime, but his bending shot, from outside the box, caught the underside of the bar and bounced out in the 98th minute.
UMass Boston needed less than five more minutes to get the winner though. Barros sent a bending ball from the near side into the box for Williamson who's initial header didn't have enough on it. He raced after the loose ball and mishit his second effort, before calmly blasting a laser past the keeper from the near post.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UMass Boston outshot the Terriers 18-13, but Thomas held an 8-6 advantage on shots on goal. The Beacons recorded all three shots in overtime.
- Williamson has now scored four goals in three games and has scored at least once in every contest. He was named the LEC Rookie of the Week on Monday afternoon, while Castro-Dreher was honored as the LEC Goalie of the Week.
- The Beacons held a 9-3 edge in corner kicks. The two teams each finished with 17 fouls and combined for six yellow cards and one red card in what was a very physical affair.
- UMass Boston improved to 3-0-0 for the second-straight season and the fifth time in program history.
- Monday's contest marked the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs with UMass Boston improving to 4-0-0 against Thomas.
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will get a well-deserved rest, before heading to North Adams, Mass. this weekend. UMass Boston will take on Union College (Saturday at Noon) and host MCLA (Sunday at 2 pm) as part of the CIAO Classic.
