The day started well for the Yale men's soccer team. The Bulldogs learned they had moved into the United Soccer Coaches national top 25, sitting at No. 24. It ended even better.
Miguel Yuste scored with two minutes left in the first overtime period to lift Yale to a thrilling 1-0 victory over UMass in Amherst, Mass.
Ryan Matteo and
Jake Schaffer set up the winning goal. Yuste finished with a left-foot blast from 20 yards out that deflected off a UMass defender and in, setting off a celebration of the Yale sideline.
The Bulldogs (8-0-2) have won eight straight games and are unbeaten through 10 games.
"I'm really proud of the guys for finding a way to win a really tough match," said
Kylie Stannard, The 5K Corral Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "UMass is much better than their record and has competed closely with everyone they've played. We knew this was going to be a battle, and it certainly was."
Yale outshot the Minutemen 14-8, including 9-4 in the second half and the overtime period.
"I thought UMass dictated more of the game in the first half, but we did much better in the second half and overtime to play how we wanted," Stannard said. "Our mentality and fitness earned us the win today."
Goalkeeper
Elian Haddock made two saves to post his fourth shutout of the season.
Stannard said playing UMass should benefit the Bulldogs when they return to Ivy play on Friday, hosting Cornell.
"This is great preparation for a very physical and very good Cornell team," he said.
Kickoff vs. the Big Red is slated for 5 p.m., and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
