Georgia Southern 1, Elon 0
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern men’s soccer team topped Elon, Sunday afternoon, in a 1-0, Southern Conference victory, recording its fifth shutout of the season, and fourth in conference play. The Eagles improve their record to 6-3-3 (2-1-2 SoCon) while the Phoenix fall to 8-5-2 (2-2-1) on the season.
After a scoreless first half, sophomore Julian Donaldson (Aurora, Colo.) notched the game-winner in the 70th minute to break the scoring drought. After breaking away from a Phoenix defender, Donaldson blasted a shot from the right side of the box that ended up in the top left shelf of the goal. It was Donaldson’s third goal of the season.
“It was a great goal,” said head coach Kevin Kennedy. “I think he hit it with a lot of power. It was a great finish from a tough angle.
Down a goal, Elon’s Conference leading offense continued to battle, posting 12 second-half shots, six of them on goal. But the experienced Eagles defense successfully foiled Elon’s attempts to even the score.
“I think Elon is very well-organized and very well-coached,” explained Kennedy. “They have several dangerous players. I’m pleased with the way we defended Kiki (Willis) and Nick (Aparicio) and keeping those two at bay.”
The two underclassmen combined on a total six shots with two on goal.
The shutout is keeper Adam Webb’s (Melbourne, Fla.) fourth of the 2006 campaign and 11th of his career, which moves him up tied for first in GSU men’s soccer career shutouts record book, sharing it with former player and coach, Kevin Chambers.
“Overall, I was really pleased with the performance today,” added Kennedy. “I think it’s always tough to follow up a conference loss with another conference game. You never know how they’re going to respond, coming off a tough loss at Charleston (Oct. 5). I thought it was one of our best games of the year.”
The Eagles look ahead to their next Southern Conference bout at Spartanburg, N.C. when they take on Wofford, Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.
“We’re focused now,” added Kennedy. “We need to go to Wofford on a day’s rest and try to get results there.”
Clemson 3, Furman 2
Greenville, S.C. -- Dane Richards scored two goals as fifth-ranked Clemson defeated Furman 3-2 at Stone Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Richards got Clemson on the board early with a converted penalty kick at the 1:15 mark. Richards made a long run down the right side and was pulled down inside the box. He beat Furman goalkeeper Bryan Amos high and to the left to give Clemson the one-goal advantage heading into halftime.
Richards struck again, just on the other side of the break. Frederico Moojen sent a through ball to Richards behind the Furman defense and the striker buried a shot high and to the near post in the 47th minute.
Clemson extended its lead to 3-0 on 72 minutes as Danny Poe’s header banked in off the far post. Hector Quintanar contributed an assist on the play.
Furman broke through at the 76:35 mark as Eliot Paschalis converted a penalty of his own. The junior was tripped in the area and his shot to the left side beat Clemson ?keeper Joseph Bendik.
The Paladins pulled to within one on 80 minutes as Jordan Howard collected a poor clearance attempt and placed his 20 yard shot off the far post.
Furman attacked the Clemson goal over the last ten minutes, but could not pull even as Nasarachi Onyeuku looked to be pulled down in the box, and a Shea Salinas shot from eight yards out went just wide of the post.
With the win, Clemson improves to 9-2-1 on the season. Furman falls to
6-5-1 with the loss. The Paladins are back in action on Wednesday as Furman plays host to Appalachian State.