Davidson 3, College of Charleston 2
DAVIDSON, NC ? Jon Bassett netted his first career goal in the 84th minute and Robby Hoak blasted home his eighth score of the season with 55 seconds remaining to lead Davidson to a come from behind 3-2 victory over College of Charleston in men’s soccer action Sunday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.
With their third consecutive victory the Wildcats improve to 9-4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Southern Conference, while the Cougars fall to 6-6-2 on the season and 2-2 in league play.
A sophomore from Iowa City, Iowa, Bassett gathered a loose ball just outside the box and drove a shot from about 25 yards past a diving College of Charleston keeper to tie the game, 2-2. Along with the game-tying strike being the first of his career, it was his first collegiate points.
“I thought the goal by Jon was tremendous,” said Davidson head coach Matt Spear. “What a way to put an explanation point on your first career goal. His score was what we needed to boost the momentum that much further towards our advantage.”
With less than a minute left in regulation, Hoak beat a Cougar defender down the left side and fired a shot from about 15 yards out finding the right corner of the net. The game-winner was the second of the season for the Atlanta, Ga., native and ran his season points total to 18.
“Robby continues to develop and is becoming a more complete striker,” said Spear. “The way he scored his goal is evident of him moving that much closer. There is nothing bigger for a forward than scoring a game-winner.”
Despite trailing a majority of the final 45 minutes of play, Davidson held College of Charleston without a shot in the second period out-shooting the Cougars 8-0 in the stanza.
“If you look at time of possession and the shots it was a dominating effort, but nothing comes easy in this conference and when your playing a team like College of Charleston,” said Coach Spear.
The Cougars Darren Toby set up Jeremy Gold for his ninth goal of the 2005 campaign to give College of Charleston a 1-0 advantage. Gold's strike from about 12 yards out came in the 24th minute of play.
Just minutes later College of Charleston committed a foul in the box resulting in a Wildcat penalty kick. Junior midfielder David Sartorio capitalized on the opportunity driving the ball in the top left corner of the goal to tie the game at one apiece.
Davidson had a great opportunity to grab its first lead in the 30th minute when Hoak's free kick from about 20 yards hit the cross bar. The Wildcats were awarded the opportunity following a Miles Alden-Dunn red card, forcing the Cougars to play a man down the remainder of the contest.
Toby gave College of Charleston the lead (2-1) again with his third strike of the season. His blast from just outside the box was created by Grant Gutherie with just over eight minutes remaining in the opening period.
The Wildcats finished the match with an impressive 16-3 shots advantage forcing Hunter Gilstrap to make three saves for the Cougars. Ben Ashton finished the match with a stop for Davidson. The Wildcats have combined to out-shoot their opponents 34-6 in the last two matches.
Davidson will wrap-up it's four-game home stand in a 7 p.m. kickoff with Southern Conference foe Furman Wednesday, Oct. 19. The Cougars will travel to UNC Greensboro Oct. 23.
“This afternoon’s victory was very exciting against a tough conference opponent,” commented Spear. “In order to contend for the league crown and number one seed, you have to win on your home field.”
Elon 4, Georgia Southern 0
ELON, NC - Brett Paschall scored two goals and the Elon Phoenix held the Georgia Southern Eagles without a shot on goal as the Phoenix earned a 4-0 Southern Conference men’s soccer victory on Sunday afternoon from Rudd Field.
Elon (6-6-2 overall, 2-0-1 SoCon) got on the board in the 14th minute when Paschall collected a Gabe Loducca pass and went one-on-one with the Georgia Southern (6-6-1, 1-4-0) keeper for his fourth goal of the season. The Phoenix struck again in the 40th minute when Douglas Boateng scored for the third time this year. Kiki Willis was credited with an assist after his shot was blocked by the keeper and Boateng then banged it home.
Paschall scored his second of the day in the 62nd minute on a penalty kick that earned GSU’s keeper, Brian Young, a yellow card. Tim Sullivan finished off the scoring when he sent a pass from Will Mason into the back of the net in the 82nd minute.
Taylor Saxe earned the shutout win for Elon, his fourth of the season. Young made three saves and allowed all four scores before being replaced by Adam Webb for the final 8:46. Webb made no saves.
Elon took 11 shots to only three for Georgia Southern. The Phoenix was whistled for eight offsides calls to only three for the Eagles.