Box Score CASTLETON, Vt. -- The University of Maine at Farmington men's soccer team's season came to an end this evening as the third-seeded Beavers fell to No. 2 Castleton State College 2-1 in the North Atlantic Conference Semifinals at Spartan Stadium.
The Beavers finished their season at 9-8. Castleton (11-5-2) advances to the NAC Championship Game on Saturday.
Dominic Heller (Glenville, N.Y.) provided the late game theatrics, heading in the game-winning goal off a Trevor Kotrady (No. Clarendon, Vt.) corner kick with only 9:05 remaining in the contest.
The Spartans put pressure on the UMF net in the first 10 minutes, but it was the Beavers who broke the scoreless tie at the 17:01 mark. Luiz Ristow (Joinville, Brazil) fought his way through the defense, used a deft touch to put the ball around the charging Nate Koenemann (Montpelier, Vt.) and then tapped it in for the 1-0 lead.
Castleton kept pressuring the defense and was finally rewarded in the 31st minute. Nick Johnas (Niskayuna, N.Y.) blasted a shot from the 18 and goalie Derek Reilly (Hollis-Brookline, N.H.) could only get his hands up to block the ball back into play. Jacob Ferry (Warwick, R.I.) corralled the rebound and fired home his third goal of the season to tie the score at one.
Five minutes into the second half, the Spartans nearly capitalized on their first corner kick of the game. Kotrady took the kick and booted the ball in the box for sophomore Spencer Dandurand (Colchester, Vt.). His header went straight up in the air, but Tanner LeCuyer (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) corralled the rebound and took a shot that was saved by Reilly.
UMF's first chance to score in the second period came in the 69th minute. The ball bounced over the defense and Jake Constantine (Woodland, N.J.) took advantage, dribbling it down the sideline before crossing it just outside the six. Ristow one-timed it and Koenemann made the diving save to prevent the would-be goal.
Castleton finally broke through at the 80:05 mark off Kotrady's corner. The junior lofted ball into the center of the six and amidst a sea of heads, Heller was able to direct the ball into the back left of the net.
Reilly finished with eight saves in net.
Koenemann made five stops in goal and cut off numerous crosses for the Spartans.
