AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts (2-8-0) used a disputed goal late in the 85th minute to upset #19 Bradley (6-2-2) on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Rudd Field.

Both teams had players at the center stripe when the Minutemen earned a throw-in deep in their offensive end, and the Braves had just started to replace their player when UMass restarted play.  With Bradley left scrambling a man short, unmarked UMass defender David Keys fired off one shot that Bradley keeper Brian Billings saved, but forward Brett Canepa knocked in the rebound for his first goal of the year and the game-winner at 84:16.

Bradley started slow and the Minutemen took advantage in the 38th minute when Andrew Henshaw curled in a 30-yard free kick for a 1-0 lead at 38:00.  Massachusetts ended the first half with a 10-6 advantage in shots, allowing Bradley only one shot on goal.

The Braves provided plenty of pressure in the second half, though, outshooting their hosts 13-6 in the final 45 minutes.  Minutemen keeper Shan Curran-Hays rose to the challenge by coming through with six second-half saves, including two in the final four minutes.

The persistent pressure paid off for Bradley in the 74th minute, when reserve defender Marcus Schademann made a deep run and served in a cross from the right flank.  Senior forward Christian Meza was on the other end of the service for a tying header at 73:55.  The goal was Meza’s third of the season and his second game-tying goal.

Bradley will continue its season-long, 4-game road swing by visiting New Hampshire in a 1 o’clock game Monday afternoon.

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