University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Edge No. 12 Portland, 2-1
9/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SEATTLE, WA (September 27) - Leandro de Oliveira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) scored the game-winning goal to lift the No. 15 nationally ranked University of Connecticut men's soccer over No. 12 University of Portland, 2-1, in first game action of the Nike Husky Classic in Seattle, WA on Friday afternoon. With the win UConn improved to 5-2-0, while Portland dropped to 6-3-0.
A quick start for Portland gave the Pilots a 1-0 halftime lead. At the 7:15 mark, UP's Eric Cronkrite served in a pass from 15 yards out. Sheldin Maistry was positioned point blanked range in front of UConn keeper Adam Schuerman (Brookfield, WI), and nailed the ball to the left of Schuerman's legs for the lone score of the half. Minutes later, Portland's Matthew Domingo received his second yellow card of the game, forcing the red card and the ejection for the remainder of the match. The Pilots played a man down for the last 30-minutes of the half, and for the entire second stanza. With the man advantage, UConn dominated its offensive half, but only out shot Portland, 5-4.
UConn came out strong at the start of the second half. A foul was called on Portland outside the Connecticut offensive box. Damani Ralph (Kingston, Jamaica) took the free kick, which was deflected out of bounds by the Portland defensive wall forcing the corner kick. Lindon Pecorelli (La Crescenta, CA) sent the kick into the offensive box, and with the commotion in front of the goal the ball trickled over the goal line to tie the score at 1-1 at 49:04. Pecorelli was credited with the goal, although the ball was deflected back from a Portland defender. With 18:24 to go, Ralph sent a diagonal pass from the far right side at midfield to de Oliveira on the opposite side of the field, about 40-yards up. de Oliveira took the shot from an awkward angle, almost even with the goal line, into the opposite side, top shelf to give UConn the 2-1 advantage.
Portland's best chance of the half came with just over 13-minutes left in regulation. Eric Cronkrite took a solid shot, and a screened Schuerman made a diving save, his only of the half, to the right side to preserve Connecticut's 2-1 lead.
Schuerman recorded three saves in net, while Portland's Curtis Spiteri warded off four shots on goal.
UConn will continue its West Coast play on Sunday, September 29 against tournament host Washington at 5:00 pm (est).
