CASTINE – Time was running out on the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners.

The men’s soccer team was trailing the visiting Owls from the University of Maine-Presque Isle 1-0 with just under a minute remaining.

But freshman striker Nate Tipton converted a free kick with 55.5 seconds remaining in regulation and then won it with a penalty kick with 5:59 left in the first overtime as MMA prevailed 2-1.

Earlier, the MMA and UMPI women battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw.

In the men’s game, a trip just outside the penalty area gave Tipton his opportunity to equalize which he did as he placed his free kick perfectly in the top corner to the left of helpless UMPI goalie Richard Felbaum.

“Their wall was a little off so I knew I could bend it around,” said Tipton.

In overtime, Dylan Burr’s long throw-in skipped in the penalty area and hit an Owl hand which resulted in the penalty kick.

Tipton said he knew where he was going to put his PK, low and to Felbaum’s right.

“He got his body on it. It just went underneath him,” said Tipton whose goals were his fourth and fifth of the season.

Senior midfielder Tony Hibbard had staked the Owls to a 1-0 lead late in the first half when the ball deflected off Corey Harding over to him and he calmly struck a 28-yard shot into the top corner beyond the outstretched right hand of MMA goalie Jeff Butland.

“We played well enough to win,” said UMPI coach Alan Gordon. ” But a couple of calls went against us [and we lost].”

UMPI outshot MMA 22-14 but the Mariners had the better of the play in the second half as they desperately sought the equalizer.

Tipton had a good chance early in the second half when the ball deflected over to him at the top of the 18 but he chipped it over the bar.

MMA’s Isaiah Roberts had a promising shot deflected wide by a defender with 17 minutes remaining and then teammate Pat Somma was able to free himself in the penalty area only to head Dan Hassett’s corner wide.

UMPI used its superior speed to control the first half, outshooting MMA 14-4.

The Owls also frustrated the Mariners with their off-sides trap and their steady play in the back headed up by Trevor Hews.

Butland finished with eight saves on 22 shots while Felbaum wound up with four on 14 shots. Felbaum made a great diving save off Tipton’s low shot in the opening minutes of the game.

MMA improved to 3-4 while UMPI fell to 3-2-1.

In the women’s game, UMPI junior goalkeeper Billie Martin said her team entered the game against MMA with one goal in mind. And the Owls accomplished that.

“We didn’t want to give up a goal and we accomplished our goal,” said Martin, who made four saves on 16 shots in the double-overtime, scoreless draw. “We’re very pleased to come down here and get a tie.”

Neither Martin nor MMA goalie Lacey Jackson was forced to make a difficult save in the defensive struggle.

The stars of the game were UMPI junior sweeper Katie Moody and MMA sweeper Megan Russell, a sophomore. Both played with exemplary composure and consistently made timely clearances while making sure their back lines were organized.

“When the defense needed to step up, we did, and the midfielders came back to help out,” said Moody.

Moody preserved the deadlock in the second overtime when Katie Hutchinson slipped a nice pass to the oncoming Diana Manatt-Rogers, who had a seam to the net down the left side of the penalty area. But as she was about to shoot, Moody came rushing over to get her foot on the shot and deflect it harmlessly away.

“I was prepared to make a tough save, but I’m glad Katie came over,” said Martin.

UMPI coach Tammy Krull said her team was forced to play conservatively due to illnesses to two starters which kept them out of the lineup. That limited UMPI’s scoring ability.

Brewer’s Carolynn Tuck did a good job marking Manatt-Rogers, who had scored the only goal in an MMA win at 3-1-2 UMPI earlier this season.

Russell called it a frustrating tie because her 3-5-1 Mariners had numerous chances.

Russell said both teams played very well defensively.

Jackson made two saves on five shots for the Mariners.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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