WEST HAVEN, Conn. -- California's Michael Luecke got free in the middle of the box on a corner kick late in the second half, heading home the game winner in a 1-0 defeat of the University of New Haven on Sunday at Robert B. Dodds Stadium. Luecke's second goal of the season came off a corner kick into the box by Pedro Palladino at the 73:23 mark in the second half, giving California University of Pennsylvania (3-0-2) the non-league victory over UNH (0-2-0).
A pair of goalkeepers shared the shutout for CUP, with Charlie Dagnel playing the first half and Derek Yobbi earning the win with a scoreless second half.
Junior keeper James Hilaire (photo) made 13 saves for UNH, which was outshot by a 27-13 margin in the contest.
UNH played solidly for the first two-thirds of the game before allowing the goal on the corner kick.
"I thought we were good for about 60 minutes out of 90," said UNH head coach Joshua Krusewski. "We had some chances we didn't put away, and near the end of the game, a guy gets free in front and it was all downhill from there. We didn't mark him on the corner kick and it cost us."
UNH's best chance to score came late in the first half at 8:35, when a crossing pass was sent to the right side of the box. Cristian Sanchez made a run off the wing and attempted to volley the ball into the goal, but missed by inches as it clanged off the inside of the right post.
The Chargers play twice more at Dodds Stadium next week, beginning with a matchup with nationally-ranked UMass Lowell on Wednesday afternoon. They also host Bloomfield College in a doubleheader with the women's soccer team next Saturday, September 8.
