BANGOR, Maine - The #2 seeded University of Maine at Farmington men's soccer team fell in penalty kicks to #3 seeded Thomas College on Friday night in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) East Division semifinal game held at Husson University.

In the first half, the Beavers controlled the ball for the majority of the half, despite being out shot 10-3. Senior goalkeeper Jonah Sautter (Lisbon Falls, Maine) picked up five saves in the first half and kept the score tied into the second half.

The Beavers got the scoring started in the 61st minute when freshman defender Maxon Brochu (Bath, Maine) found the back of the net for the second time this season. Brochu's goal was scored off a beautifully converted corner kick. Alex Thompson (Auburn, Maine) took the corner and drove a hard flat ball on the ground to Christian Beliveau (Auburn, Maine) who was making a run to the front post. Beliveau was unmarked and was able to receive the ball, backhealed it back to Brochu who was able to fire a shot into the back of the net.

Thomas would answer in the 69th minute when Joshua Joseph (Devonshire, Bermuda) would slice through the Beaver defense down the left sideline and carry the ball along the end line before firing a shot on the ground to the back post that got past Sautter.

The Terriers would then take the lead in the 76th minute off a goal from Gabriel Fortuna (Birigui, Brazil). Fortuna's goal was scored off a feed from Eric Labrie (Yarmouth, Maine). Labrie lofted a cross to the back post that found Fortuna who would deposit it into the back of the net giving the Terriers a 2-1 advantage with under 15 minutes to play.

The Beavers upped their pressure in the closing minutes in an effort to tie the game. The Beavers won a corner kick with a minute and a half to play. Given the deficit and the amount of time left in the game, the Beavers loaded the box, bringing most everyone in for a final opportunity to force overtime. Yusuf Mohamed (Lewiston, Maine) took the corner and lofted a deep cross into the box that eventually found the foot of Trevor Krueger (Sandwich, Mass.) who sent a pass across the middle to Will Dowse (Sherborn, Mass.) who one timed it into an empty net giving the Beavers the tie and sending the game to overtime. 

The two overtimes only saw one shot on goal which was registered by the Beavers. After neither team was able to score in either overtime period, the teams advanced into penalty kicks.

In penalty kicks, the first three kickers for each team was able to convert as Julen Zuidervaart (Noord-Holland, Netherlands), Fortuna, and Joseph all scored for the Terriers while Dowse, Thompson, and Aric Belanger (Manchester, Maine) converted for the Beavers. In the fourth frame, Micky Woodrow (Udenhout, Netherlands) found the back of the net past the diving attempt of Sautter to give the Terriers a 4-3 advantage. Krueger was the next kicker for the Beavers who had a chance to once again force a tie but would send his attempt over the bar. After Krueger's miss, it was up to Logan Rockwood (Hopkinton, N.H.) for the Terriers. He could send the Terriers to the NAC East Championship with a goal, or give the Beavers another life and a chance to tie with a miss. Rockwood did not miss however as he pocketed his attempt into the back of the net to Sautter's left and sent the Terriers into a matchup on Sunday with Husson.

Sautter would make seven saves for the Beavers while Jayce Nielsen (Kittery, Maine) picked up six saves for the Terriers. 

The Terriers held a 20-14 advantage in shots and a 9-8 advantage in shots on goals while the Beavers held a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks.

The loss for the Beavers marks the end of their 2022 season and for the third time in as many seasons that they are knocked out via penalty kicks.