Indiana Tech shocks Bengals
November 21, 2009 • Fort Kent, ME
Indiana keeper Verhulst makes a save in their 1-0 upset over #2 UMFK
Elliot Everson scored in the 100th minute as unranked Indiana Tech shocked #2 Maine Fort Kent in the 2009 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship Opening Round Saturday afternoon in front of over 500 fans in Fort Kent, Maine. The Warriors (13-6-3) will now advance to the Round of 16 in Fresno, California while the UMFK men's season comes to a sudden ending at 17-1-1.
Everson took a ball from teammate Joel Putek and beat UMFK keeper Giovanni Sinclair high to his left from just outside the left corner of the 18 yard box with 5:09 remaining in the first 10 overtime session. The host Bengals outshot Indiana Tech 18-6 with a 9-2 advantage coming on goal and also held a 14-2 edge in corner kicks.
Although Indiana Tech only had two shots on goal, they had the first legitament scoring chance in the 15th minute when they banged a rebound off the UMFK post. The Bengals then turned up their offense with Jermaine West sailing a shot just high in the 31st minute followed by a top notch save by Warrior goalie Josh Verhulst as he dove to his right to stear away a low lining shot by UMFK junior Luka Odak in the 36th minute of the first.
Verhulst played an exceptional match for the Warriors and made the last of multiple grade A saves with just under a minute left in regulation as he scrambled from his back to get a hand on a sure goal by Bengal forward West (six total shots) who was less than six yards in front of the Warrior goal. In fact, UMFK put constant pressure on Indiana Tech in the final five minute with West missing just wide again in the 86th minute followed by a header which went just high by Andre Anderson in the 87th minute.
Verhults (seven saves) and the Warrior defense turned in a great game as they combined to make nine saves on the day. Sinclair made one save on two Warrior shots.
The loss marked the end of sparkling careers for UMFK seniors Emlyn Jacoby and Dwayne Smith who both came to the program along with Coach Bill Ashby four years ago. In that time, the Bengals have gone 71-6-3 making three NAIA National Tournament appearances.
Copyright © 2024 University of Maine at Fort Kent. All Rights Reserved.