Box Score FARMINGTON, Maine – The University of Maine at Farmington's second half comeback bid came up shy of the mark as New England College men's soccer answered every UMF rally and escaped Prescott Field with a 4-3 win, in a North Atlantic Conference matchup Sunday afternoon.
Three straight New England College (6-3-2, 2-0-1 NAC) goals in the first half allowed the Pilgrims to take a 3-1 lead by halftime. Nick Grim (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) struck first for the Beavers in the third minute, and the Pilgrims' Rob Lucas and Manny Arteaga scored in the 14th and 16th minutes respectively to give New England College the lead. Ralph Bertrand extended the Pilgrims' lead with a goal in the 37th minute.
UMaine-Farmington's Luiz Ristow (Joinville, Brazil/Positivo Joinville) cut the margin to 3-2 in the 56th minute, scoring on a set piece direct kick taken by keeper Paul Dupre (Rehoboth, Mass./Xaverian Brothers). Dupre played the ball directly into the outer left corner of 6-yard box from approximately 30 yards out, and Ristow finished with a header into the Pilgrims' goal.
NEC clung to its 3-2 lead for the next 25 minutes, as quality scoring chances became few and far between amidst a steady rain that turned the pitch to mud and left both teams struggling for footing.
The Pilgrims' Sebastian Manteau finally gave NEC some extra cushion on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal in the 81st minute, extending New England College's lead to 4-2.
Ristow took a chunk out of that lead with one second remaining in regulation, curling a corner kick from the left corner right around the near post and into the far side of the Pilgrims' goal.
Dupre made five saves in the Beavers' goal, while Pilgrim keeper Robert Millard was forced to make three stops. NEC held a 15-10 advantage in total shots, and took seven corner kicks to UMF's two.
UMaine-Farmington (1-9-0, 0-4-0 NAC) will resume NAC play this weekend, facing Castleton State on Saturday, Oct. 6, in Castleton, Vt. The Beavers will then play Green Mountain College on Sunday, Oct. 7.
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