The University of Massachusetts men's soccer team kicked off their 2025 campaign in dramatic fashion, edging Siena College 3-2 in a season opener at Rudd Field on August 21st. Despite falling behind early, the Minutemen showcased their offensive firepower with 17 shots and three different goal scorers to secure the home victory in front of 311 fans. The match featured five goals, 22 combined fouls, and non-stop action that kept spectators on the edge of their seats throughout the 90 minutes.
Siena drew first blood just 1:40 into the match when Campbell Stalker capitalized on an early opportunity, finishing off a well-worked play with an assist from Martin Piedeleu. The Saints controlled the early tempo and nearly doubled their lead when Benjamin Fogarty forced a save from UMass goalkeeper Alex Geczy in the fifth minute. However, the Minutemen gradually settled into the match and began dominating possession, earning seven first-half corner kicks to Siena's two. Their pressure paid off in the 20th minute when Aidan Kelly leveled the score with a clinical finish, assisted by the combination of John Paul Mbuthia and Thomas Wadas, sending the teams into halftime deadlocked at 1-1.
The second half belonged to UMass as they turned their shot advantage into goals. Alex Brown broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, converting Kelly's assist to give the Minutemen their first lead of the match. The home side continued to pepper Siena goalkeeper Bennet Glinder with shots, and their persistence was rewarded when John Paul Mbuthia extended the lead to 3-1 in the 72nd minute. After Glinder made an initial save on Shane Velez's attempt, Mbuthia was quickest to the rebound, slotting home his first goal of the season. Siena refused to surrender quietly, with substitute Miguel Plaza pulling one back in the 76th minute, assisted by Tomislav Vrdoljak, to set up a tense finale. The Saints pushed hard for an equalizer in the closing stages, earning three late corner kicks, but the UMass defense held firm to preserve the victory. Glinder finished with eight saves in a losing effort, while the Minutemen outshot Siena 17-6 overall and 11-3 on target, demonstrating their offensive dominance despite the close scoreline.
Looking Ahead: Massachusetts hits the road to take on UConn in Storrs, Connecticut on Sunday, August 24th, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Meanwhile, Siena will look to bounce back when they travel to face Lafayette in Easton, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, August 28th at 7:00 p.m.