Unity College Zachary Huber (18) kicks the ball while the University of Maine at Farmington’s Tristan Price (11) turns his head during a soccer game at Prescott Field in Farmington on Wednesday.
Unity College’s Mark Hoyt (12) grimaces as UMF forward Yusuf Mohamed (8) kicks ball to score the Beavers’ first goal in the first half at Prescott Field in Farmington on Wednesday.
Unity’s Brenden Hinman (5) and UMF’s Ethan Stufoso (15) go up to the head the ball at Prescott Field in Farmington Wednesday.
FARMINGTON — There were two conversations — one that was fiery and the other filled with praise — during halftime of a men’s soccer game between the University of Maine at Farmington and Unity College on Wednesday.
One discussion backfired, and the other was a loud talking-to from UMF coach Nathan Kronewetter, whose intense wake-up call inspired the Beavers (3-2) to score four goals in the second half and dispatch the Rams, 5-0, at Prescott Field.
“To be honest with you, we came out very flat,” Kronewetter said. “Give credit to the other team. They came out and won the 50-50 balls. They were more aggressive than us and they connected more passes than us.
“We came out flat and we were punished for our play in the first half,” he added.
That’s when Kronewetter decided to have a sit-down with his Beavers at halftime.
“A few words at halftime — a few choice words and put a little bit of our change in our formation to just get offensive-minded,” Kronewetter said. “A little bit of push — emotionally and physically and then we were able bring in some fresh legs off the bench.”
The Beavers got on the scoreboard in the first half at the 9:11 mark when freshman forward Yusuf Mohamad took a Tristin Price feed and drilled it from about 15 yards out to score.
That goal held up for the entire first half despite Unity’s numerous attempts to score while holding UMF at bay. Rams goalie Sam Napper had a lot to do with stifling the Beavers.
“We actually finally started putting some things together,” Unity coach Jeremy VonOesen said. “The second half, I complimented them a lot at halftime. I told them this was the last time I would compliment them that much at halftime.
“You look at the psychology of everything and I look at the psychology of my team a lot and they kind of came out flat in the second half,” he added. “We are still not quite back in shape, yet. We go deep so we play a lot of kids and we try to give them a lot of opportunities and it can bit you sometimes and our flow bit us a little bit in the second half.”
Kronewetter’s oratorial skills charged up his Beavers in the second half.
UMF reeled off four head-spinning goals that put the game well out of reach of the Rams.
Price scored on an unassisted goal to put UMF up 2-0, but the Beavers were just getting started on offense
Forward Jon Randolph lofted his goal over the Unity goalie’s head and into the net. Midfielder Silas Mohlar was credited with an assist. Ethan Cooper followed with an unassisted goal and Ilyas Abdi topped off the UMF’s victory with a goal assisted by Aden Biwe.
UMF outshot Unity, 19-5, and led in corner kicks, 8-1.
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