UMass Men’s Soccer Defeats Stonehill 4-0, Goalkeeper’s Save Proves Pivotal
NORTH AMHERST, Mass. – The UMass Minutemen secured a decisive 4-0 victory over the Stonehill Skyhawks on Saturday, September 6, in a game highlighted by a crucial save from goalkeeper Alex Geczy and a strong offensive performance. The win moves UMass to a [record not specified in text] record on the season.
The Minutemen were leading 2-1 entering the final 10 minutes of the first half when Stonehill mounted a counterattack. A 30-yard shot from a Skyhawks forward appeared destined for the top corner of the net, but Geczy made an acrobatic save, tipping the ball off the crossbar.
“Geczy was a top keeper today,” UMass head coach Frank O’Leary said. “He pulled off a terrific save in the first half. Without him making that save, it could have changed the face of the game and would’ve given them an equalizer and a big boost.” O’Leary further noted Geczy’s consistent performance throughout his career, stating, “He earned it today.”
Following a goal by Kelly, UMass extended its lead when Cence stole the ball off the kickoff and scored, bringing the score to 3-0. Three minutes later, Cence scored again, assisted by Wadas, after a Stonehill turnover. Cence exploited the Skyhawks’ defense, noting, “They weren’t fast at the back and I just wanted to take people on.”
Wadas’ assist highlighted his growing connection with Cence. “He’s a grate freshman,” cence said. “He’s got a wand of a left foot, so I just want to keep giving him opportunities to whip balls in to get points, goals and assists like he did today.”
O’Leary praised Cence’s all-around play, saying, “He came in today and played well on both sides of the ball. Without the ball, he had an appetite to defend, and with the ball he was positive and direct.”
umass will next host Bryant on Saturday, Sept. 6, with kickoff scheduled for noon. The game will be streamed on the Summit League Network. O’Leary anticipates a challenging match, stating, ”I think Bryant is one of the top 25-50 teams in the country…We are going to need an even greater defensive effort to stay in the game against a team with the caliber of player that Bryant has.”
