Senior defender Steve Hoeck scored the go-ahead goal in the 15th minute of the game and led a strong defensive effort as third-seeded Towson University (13-4-1) edged sixth-seeded University of New Hampshire in the first round of the America East Championship at Towson Center Field on Wednesday.
The Tigers now advance to the America East semifinal game at the University of Hartford (12-5-2) on Saturday afternoon at 1:00. Seeded second in the league tournament, the Hawks played Towson to a 2-2 double overtime tie in Towson during the regular season.
In beating New Hampshire for the eighth time in a row, the Tigers took an early lead when Hoeck scored his third goal of the season at 14:27. Senior Todd Lauber started the play when he hit a corner kick to the far post. Hoeck outjumped the UNH defense and headed the ball into the corner of the net, giving Towson a 1-0 lead. The assist was Lauber’s team-leading tenth of the season.
The Tigers, who will be making their fourth consecutive appearance in the America East semifinals, stretched the lead to 2-0 late in the first half. Junior Randy Tolson took a long throw-in from junior Kevin Corradini in the penalty area and flicked it past Wildcat goalkeeper Chad Green for the Tigers’ second goal.
Meanwhile, Hoeck led an inspired defensive effort as the Tigers protected the lead. Senior goalkeeper Chris Hurley made four saves while posting his fourth shutout of the season. Most of Hurley’s saves came late in the game as senior Tim Gober and freshman Nate Zachmann did a great job clearing balls out of the penalty area before they could reach Hurley.
The Wildcats had an 18-16 advantage in shots but the Tigers had an 8-3 edge in corner kicks. Green made five saves for UNH.
Seniors Petter Starnas and Phoenthip Ketnouvong each scored a goal and an assist as Northeastern advanced to the America East Men’s Soccer Championship semifinal round with a 5-0 win over Hofstra at Parsons Field. The fourth-seeded Huskies, 12-7-0, set an America East Championship record for goals, breaking the mark of four shared by three teams.
Northeastern dominated the entire game, out-shooting the fifth-seeded Pride, 25-6.
Senior Trond Olsen broke a scoreless tie in the 17th minute when his shot deflected off a Hofstra defender and by goalkeeper Justin Varrone. Ketnouvong made it 2-0 in the 24th minute when he was set up in the middle of the box by Starnas and blasted a 15-footer.
Starnas scored on a penalty kick after being hauled down in the box for a 3-0 edge in the 65th minute.
Freshman Joe Parrish and junior Ben Collins completed the scoring for the Huskies.
Allan Lewis made two saves in the Huskies’ net. Varrone made five saves for the Pride, 9-9-1, before giving way to Daniel Greening, who stopped two of the four shots he faced.
Northeastern now plays No. 1 seed Boston University on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Nickerson Field. No. 3 Towson plays at No. 2 Hartford at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the other semifinal game.
1 2 Final
New Hampshire (7-8-3) 0 0 -- 0
Towson (13-4-1) 2 0 -- 2
Scoring
TU-Steve Hoeck (Todd Lauber) 14:27
TU-Randy Tolson (Kevin Corradini) 37:19
Shots: Towson 16, New Hampshire18
Saves: Towson (Chris Hurley, 4); New Hampshire (Chad Green, 5)
Corners Kicks: Towson 8, New Hampshire 3
1 2 Final
Hofstra (9-9-1) 0 0 -- 0
Northeastern (12-7-0) 2 3 -- 5
Scoring
NU-Trond Olsen (unassisted) 16:13
NU-Phoenthip Ketnouvong (Petter Starnas) 23:49
NU-Starnas (unassisted/PK) 64:57
NU-Joe Parrish (Ketnouvong) 83:26
NU-Ben Collins (Antha Kirkopoulos, Michael Cipriano) 87:38
Shots: Hofstra 6, Northeastern 25
Saves: Hofstra (Justin Varrone, 5; Daniel Greening, 2); Northeastern (Allan Lewis, 2)
Corners Kicks: Hofstra 10, Northeastern 8