Tampa, FL- For the second time in 3
years, the Dowling College Men's Soccer team advances to the
Championship match after defeating Northern Kentucky 2-1 in
overtime thanks to two more goals from star forward Lamine
Traore.
In regulation, the two halves were as lopsided as possible, with N.
Kentucky dominating Dowling in the first, out-shooting them 9-2 and
scoring their only goal early in the game after ten
minutes. In that half, GK Nemanja Veljovic managed 4
saves after facing extreme pressure from the front.
After the break, Dowling bounced back and was able to control the
ball, outshooting N. Kentucky 8-7 and forcing 2 saves by GK Michael
Lavric. However, it was Lamine Traore who forced the
OT. With ten minutes left in regulation, Traore received a
cross from Vlad Milosavljevic, shooting it into the upper right
corner from ten yards out, tying the score 1-1.
Going into overtime, Dowling kept up the pressure they showed in
the 2nd keeping the ball away from their side the majority of the
time. With this increased intensity, Lamine Traore struck
again in the 96th minute. Off a pass from El Hadji Mbow,
Traore shot one into the the upper right corner from 15 out, making
the score 2-1 and sending Dowling to the Championship
Match.
The Championship Match will be played on Sunday at 1:00pm against
the winner of tonight's game between Tampa University and Cal.
State. Domingus Hills.
-Provided by Dowling Sports Information department.
