The Stony Brook men’s soccer team was unable to find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss against conference rival UMass Lowell on Saturday night. Stony Brook tied a season low with seven shots in the game, which was previously set against Georgetown on Sept. 20.
Stony Brook’s was not enough, as UMass Lowell marched down the field and broke the scoreless tie with a goal from redshirt-junior forward Ivan Abramovic in the 72nd minute. The ball was placed inside the box from a cross, which allowed freshman forward Roko Prsa to send an open pass to Abramovic, who shot it to the back of the goal past Stony Brook sophomore goalkeeper Jacob Braham.
The team was coming off a season-high four goals in its previous matchup against Sacred Heart, while UMass Lowell had failed to scored a goal in its previous three games.
Throughout the match, Stony Brook’s defense was unable to compete against UMass Lowell’s steady-paced offense, as UMass Lowell maintained most of the possession, allowing for many opportunities around the net.
Both teams setting a physical tone early in the first half, as four fouls were called in the game’s first eight minutes. Stony Brook’s offense was able to fight through UMass Lowell’s defense and get an opportunity early as sophomore midfielder Jarred Dass had a shot at the net in the seventh minute that went wide.
Graduate forward Robin Bjornholm-Jatta had an opportunity in the ninth minute as he headed a shot at the goal from a crossed ball. UMass Lowell senior goalkeeper Austin Kroll saved the shot and had three total saves in the match.
Following the Seawolves’ opportunities, momentum shifted to the River Hawks, as many opportunities were created off constructive passing and steady pacing. The River Hawks failed to finish at the net with opportunities in the 17th, 23rd and 26th minute, which were all shot high above the goal.
The lack of finishing by the River Hawk offense was crucial, as out of the 15 shots in the match, only two were on net. UMass Lowell had its best opportunity of the half in the 36th minute, as junior midfielder Jakov Basic let off a strike from just outside the box and deflected off Stony Brook junior midfielder Martieon Watson, sending it high above the net once again.
Stony Brook’s offense struggled through the rest of the first half, going into halftime with just three shots on net, tying its season low against Georgetown. UMass Lowell’s possession throughout the half did not allow Stony Brook to get many opportunities or touches.
Braham started his fifth game of the season on Saturday, having given up five goals through all his previous starts. Braham faced only two shots in the matchup, including none going into halftime, as UMass Lowell failed to put a shot on net in the first half.
In the second half, the Seawolves stepped up their offensive play early, as an opportunity by senior forward Vince Erdei in the 47th minute went just wide of the net, slipping off his boot. The Seawolves followed up with an opportunity in the 50th minute from a free kick by senior midfielder Thibault Duval which was saved by Kroll.
Stony Brook had one last gasp as time was winding down. Erdei took the team’s sixth and final corner kick in the 89th minute. The corner ended up short, but was deflected out to sophomore forward Mark Irvine, who took a strike from outside the box as time expired. The shot went over the goal, sealing Stony Brook’s defeat.
This match was Stony Brook’s first conference loss, which drops the team to 0-1-1 in America East play, and fourth in the standings. The Seawolves’ overall record falls to 6-3-3, as they seek to bounce back in another conference matchup against Vermont at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 11. at 7 p.m..
