Kansas City Storms Back to Take Down UMass

Saturday, November 1

Amherst, MA

11:00 AM

Kansas City

10-2-4, 4-1-0

UMass

6-5-6, 1-3-2

Kansas City

Massachusetts

Photo by: Josh Walker

Kansas City Storms Back to Take Down UMass

11/1/2025 3:12:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Highlights

Down but never out, the Roos erased a two-goal deficit to remain at the top of the Summit League standings

AMHERST, Mass. - Kansas City Men's Soccer (10-2-4, 4-1-0 Summit) has not had to play the come-from-behind game often this season. Entering Saturday's game at UMass (6-5-6, 1-3-2 Summit), the Roos had not trailed in over a month and had only a multi-goal deficit one time throughout the entire season. Faced with the challenge of playing from behind after two early goals by the Minutemen, KC answered the call. The Roos scored three-straight goals in the game's final 47 minutes, winning 3-2 and keeping themselves in contention for a Summit League regular season title.

Massachusetts set the tone early on with a pair of goals in the first 25 minutes. Both goals came in the counter attack via the same connection: Matt Cince found John Paul Mbuthia and Mbuthia found the back of the net. The only other time that Kansas City has trailed by more than one goal this season came on Sep. 27 against Denver, one of the Roos' two losses on the year.

The tide began to turn after the Minutemen's second goal, as the Roos began to string together possession. The spark finally came in the 44th minute with the Roos in the attack. Jeremy Francou attempted to square up a ball towards goal, but the shot went off his leg and spun around in the box. Chasing after the loose ball, Kevin Nkumu was tripped by a UMass defender, earning a clear penalty. Francou stepped up to the spot, blowing the attempt past Dean Linden's outstretched arm for his eighth goal of the season. Before today, the Roos had not earned a penalty shot since Nov. 11, 2023 and had not converted a penalty since Sep. 23, 2023.

Coming out of the half, Kansas City maintained its energy, but the Minutemen were still looking to expand their lead. Marc Popow made three saves on the day, the biggest coming in the 62nd minute. Cince found space at the top of the box and let a left-footed blast fly that seemed destined to put a damper on the Roos' comeback efforts. Popow lunged to his left, going completely horizontal and pushing the shot away to keep KC alive.

Shortly after, Kansas City delivered the 1-2 punch that earned them three points. The Roos strung together a maintained possession in the 67th minute, finally breaking through when Bryce Outman sent a cross into the box and Guille Munoz rose between a pair of defenders to head it home for his first goal of the season. Kansas City quickly regained possession following the restart, earning a quick corner kick. Timothy Ospina took the corner and sent it towards the back post. The in-swinging ball was met by a UMass player, but was headed directly backwards and into the net for an own goal.

This is the second-straight game that the Roos have benefited from an own goal, also in the game against Michigan State last Sunday. Previously, the Roos had not scored via own goal since Nov. 3, 2012. It is the first time since at least the 1998 season that Kansas City scored by own goal in back-to-back games.

With the win, Kansas City moves to 12 points in conference play and has a chance to clinch at least a share of the Summit League regular season title in the regular season finale, pending Denver's results. The Roos play Delaware on Wednesday - at 10 points, the Blue Hens are still within striking distance of overtaking KC in the league standings.