University of Delaware Athletics
UD Continues to Dominate at Home as Hens Edge Out NU 2-1 (Oct. 5, 2011)
10/5/2011 2:38:00 PM | Men's Soccer
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NEWARK, Del.-- It was another high octane game for the University of Delaware men's soccer team, which edged out long-time Colonial Athletic Association foe Northeastern University 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
The Hens jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a pair of goals from senior forward and the team's leading scorer, Evans Frimpong. Brandon Paul got his first start in goal since Sept 1. against Seton Hall. The junior keeper made eight saves on the afternoon, tying a career high on Oct. 9, 2010 at James Madison, Delaware's next opponent.
“Delighted again for the players today. They should be proud to have win the last nine home games. We played some lovely soccer today in the opening stanza and, perhaps unlucky to have only 2 goals,” said head coach Ian Hennessy, who has he team off to its best start since he took over the program in 2006. “However, a great deal of credit goes to Northeastern for pushing for the equalizer, which on a different day they may have had.”
With the win, Delaware extended its home winning streak to nine overall games, including eight in conference play, dating back to the 2009 season finale. The last time Delaware lost a home conference game was to Northeastern on Oct. 28, 2009. Today's win marked the first time Delaware defeated the Huskies in Newark in the series.
The game was a mental test for the Hens, who rebounded from their first loss of the season, coming 2-0 on the road at No. 20 Old Dominion. It was an odd loss for Delaware. The game began on Friday night, with UD taking a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute before lightning forced the game to restart on Saturday.
Delaware, which received votes in this week's NSCAA/adidas South Atlantic Regional Rankings, will look to extend both its overall and conference streaks at home this Sunday when the Hens host conference rival James Madison University. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. at Delaware Mini-Stadium.
The Hens (7-1-1, 2-1-0 CAA) jumped out to an early lead as Frimpong found the back of the net in the 7th minute. The teams leading scorer, deked his defender while NU goalkeeper Oliver Blum could not get in front of Frimpong, who finished to the left post.
Frimpong again gave the Hens an exciting goal in the 23rd minute. He took a pass from the foot of Ben Raymond, who was in the left corner. After Frimpong received the pass, he slid past the defender to his right a finished his attempt to the top right corner. The second goal, Frimpong's seventh of the year, was Delaware's 20th of the year, tying the 2006 mark for second-most under Hennessy. The Hens tallied 23 goals in 2009, the highest offensive production under Hennessy.
Northeastern (5-4-1, 1-2-0 CAA) kept things interesting as Dante Marini, who attended Salesianum High School in Wilmington, Del., put away his fourth goal of the year in the 29th minute, pulling the Huskies back within one. The game remained scoreless throughout the remainder of the game.
Marini played the wind well, which was at his back and gusting up to 20 miles per hour, taking a long distance attempt from 40 yards out which knuckled in the air and just past the reach of Paul in goal.
Despite the outcome, Northeastern had a majority of the shooting chances, putting up 16 attempts, nine of which were on goal. On the other end, Delaware managed just five total shots, putting three on cage. Blum made just one save on the evening.
The Huskies held a 7-3 edge in corners, but were called offsides on five occasions.
Wednesday's game was a physical match up, with 16 fouls called, including five yellow cards, including a double yellow against Delaware, which played shorthanded for the final 19 minutes.
