But the match’s final score was anything but commonplace for this year’s Huskies.
Northeastern squandered a second-half lead for the first time in 2011, allowing two late goals at Holy Cross en route to a 2-1 overtime loss. Head coach Brian Ainscough said that playing with a lead is an area where the Huskies need improvement.
“While it’s great to get with the goal at any stage in the game, we have to be able to play with that goal,” Ainscough said following his squad’s 2-1 home victory over Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Saturday. He could not be reached for comment after Tuesday’s match.
Marini’s goal came unassisted at the 59-minute mark. After dribbling into the box, he tucked a shot past Crusaders keeper Michael Thompson and into the side netting for his third goal and seventh point overall in eight games this season.
But Holy Cross answered less than seven minutes later when midfielder Tommy Uttaro took a pass from forward Josh Cintas and beat junior keeper Oliver Blum. The tally was Uttaro’s second of the season.
The Huskies (5-2-1) fired off 13 shots during the match, against Holy Cross’ eight, but only scored two and both of them came in the second half. Each side traded chances in the first overtime period, but the Crusaders (1-6-2) were the ones to break through with just five minutes remaining in the second half of extra time.
Sophomore forward Kevin O’Connell was able to find the ball through a mass of players in the 18-yard box after two bang-bang passes between Cintas and Uttaro. O’Connell beat Blum from the right side of the 18-yard box to give Holy Cross their first win of the season.
The Huskies’ finished their out-of-conference schedule at 4-2-1, and Tuesday’s loss ended their four-game unbeaten streak that dated back to a Sept. 4 loss at Harvard. The Huskies remain undefeated at home, and Ainscough added that winning on home turf can help motivate a team down the stretch.
“That was a very tough game Saturday,” said Ainscough, who is in his seventh year as head coach. “Obviously it’s very important that you open up at your home field with a win…and if we’re gonna make any headway this year with a chance of some postseason, we have to take these games.”
It was a different story at Parsons Field Saturday, where the Huskies controlled the flow of the first half and jumped out to an early 1-0 lead against VCU. Northeastern went on to win the game on a penalty kick goal from senior forward Mike Kennedy that would prove to be the difference.
Starting for the first time in three games, sophomore forward Ricardo McDonald put the Huskies on top after just eight minutes of play. McDonald dribbled easily into the penalty box, then put a shot to the far post past Rams senior keeper Josh Pantazelos for his third goal of the season.
Ainscough said that McDonald’s play of late is a reflection of a competitive fire fueled by a late-season injury that caused him to miss the final seven games of the 2010 season.
“He’s working hard and we expected big things out of him this year,” Ainscough said. “Now I think he knows that you have to play every game like it’s your last. Saturday’s game he could have had two or three goals. I think he knows…he’s gotta make something happen.”
But the lead didn’t last long. Just five minutes later, VCU (5-4) senior defender Nick Rich took a ball to the endline and played a cross into the penalty area. The pass bounced off a Northeastern defender and right to Jason Johnson, leaving the Rams sophomore forward to head the ball past a helpless Blum.
The score could have been 2-1 had Blum not come to the rescue in the ninth minute. VCU was awarded a penalty kick less than a minute after the Huskies took the lead but Blum dove to his right side to save junior forward Yoram Mwila’s attempt on net.
In the end, it was Northeastern that converted a crucial penalty kick at the 68-minute mark. After Marini drew a foul in the Rams’ penalty area, Kennedy stepped up and beat Pantazelos low to his left side twice. His first attempt was disallowed when a Northeastern player illegally entered the box before the ball was struck.
“I was just trying to say to myself, ‘Just stay with the same spot,’” said Kennedy, who now has three points (two goals and an assist) so far this season. “Dante [Marini] made a great play to draw that [penalty kick]. It was great hustle and it was pretty much his goal. The PK was the easy part.”
Ainscough said that Kennedy’s play has been and will continue to be an integral part of Northeastern’s collective success.
“He’s only getting his fitness back, [but] we never want to take Mike out of the game,” Ainscough added. “He’s been a big impact on this program for four years, and we’re not going to win unless he’s at the top of his game.”
The Huskies’ road trip continues Oct. 1 when they travel to Virginia to take on James Madison University (3-1-1) at 8 p.m.
