Elon 2, Marshall 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Behind the strength of two first-half goals, the Elon men’s soccer team got in the win column with a 2-0 victory over Marshall in the UNCG Kickoff Classic on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. Junior Brad Franks netted the ultimate game-winner at the 24-minute mark and senior Steven Kinney added a strike just before the half to help the Phoenix improve to 1-2-1 on season. Marshall dropped to 1-3-1 overall.
“It was good to get our first win and it was nice to see the ball hit the back of the net a couple of times today,” said Elon head coach Darren Powell. “We still need to learn to be more composed in the final third. We expect to do that as we improve on each performance. Our task now is to prepare for an ACC opponent when we play Clemson in the Jimmy V game on Wednesday. This is always a great event and we look forward to playing in Rhodes Stadium and having the Elon community come out and support college soccer.”
In typical Elon fashion, the Phoenix quickly began its attack on opponent goalkeeper Daniel Withrow. The Marshall defense blocked shots by Kinney and Daniel Street and Withrow made a save on a Chris Thomas strike within the first 10 minutes of action. Elon got on the board when Stephen Miller sent a pass to Franks who put the ball home from about 25 yards out for his first goal of the season. The assist was also Miller’s first of the year.
The Elon defense allowed only two Marshall shots in the opening period, holding a 10-2 shot advantage. With just over a minute to play before the break, Kinney intercepted a Marshall pass and took three dribbles before sending a rocket into the back of the net at 43:56.
The Phoenix back line did its job in the final 45 minutes of action. Junior keeper Clint Irwin tallied two saves in his second straight clean slate performance. Irwin now has 11 shutouts for his career, third most in the Elon record books. Elon outshot Marshall 16-6 and held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks for the game.
Elon returns home to battle the Clemson Tigers in the annual Jimmy V Classic game on Wednesday, September 16. The match will be played at Rhodes Stadium with kick set for 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 with $1 of each ticket sold benefitting the V Foundation.
UNC Greensboro 1, Longwood 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Matt Foxx’s first collegiate goal came with 4:44 to play and lifted UNC Greensboro past Longwood, 1-0, in the final match of the 2009 UNCG Kickoff Classic on Sunday afternoon.
UNCG (1-2-1) also picked up its first win of the season, thanks to three shutout goalkeeping by Nate Berry and Foxx’s first career tally. Midway through the second half, Berry kept the game scoreless when he just got enough of a hand on Chris Saul’s shot. The ball went off of Berry’s left hand and deflected off the far post.
Foxx’s goal came after Sven Picton played a ball from left wing high into the air. Foxx and goalkeeper Joel Helmick both went up for the ball and Foxx got just a little higher to get a piece of it and knock it into the goal for what would be the only tally of the afternoon.
UNCG outshot the Lancers, 17-8, for the match and had a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The Spartans return to action on Wednesday night when they host James Madison for a 7 p.m. match.
Furman 3, North Florida 0
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Eric Cobleigh scored in the 19th minute and Fabien Vorbe and Jordan Howard added second half goals as Furman blanked North Florida in the finale of the Diadora/Spinx Furman Invitational on Sunday at Stone Stadium. In the first match of the day, College of Charleston defeated Florida Gulf Coast 2-1 in overtime to take the tournament title.
The win improved Furman to 2-2-1 on the season while North Florida slipped to 0-4.
Furman opened the scoring at 18:21 when Dane Roberts played a give-and-go with Debola Ogunseye before playing Cobleigh behind the defense for the shot to the right corner. The Paladins doubled their lead at 68:06. Mark Gabriel muscled a defender off of the ball and sent a low cross into the box. Vorbe squeezed a shot between the keeper and left post to increase the advantage to 2-0.
With just over a minute remaining, Ogunseye picked up his second assist of the day. His low cross from the right side was deflected by Alex Crooks into the path of Howard who finished from 13 yards for his second tally of the campaign.
Furman managed a 14-3 edge in shot attempts and 10-3 advantage in corner kicks. Sophomore Alec Kann collected one save while securing the shutout in goal for the Paladins. Jullian Beau stopped four shots for North Florida.
In the opening game, Francis Twohig fired past the Florida Gulf Coast keeper on a rebound at 99:43 to lift the College of Charleston (5-0) to a 2-1 victory over the Eagles (1-3-1).
Twohig set up the Cougars’ first goal in the 49th minute as George Khoury beat the FGCU keeper. The Eagles equalized at 71:21 on Deion Jones’ header before surrendering the overtime winner.
Furman returns to action Thursday when it travels to face Coastal Carolina in a 3 p.m. contest in Conway, S.C.
College of Charleston 2, Florida Gulf Coast 1 (OT)
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Freshman Francis Twohig scored the deciding goal in overtime to lift the College of Charleston men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday afternoon in the Furman Diadora/Spinx Invitational.
With the win, the Cougars improved to 5-0 and captured the Furman Invitational Championship. Florida Gulf Coast fell to 1-3-1 with the loss. Charleston returns to the pitch on Friday, Sept. 18 when they visit Lehigh for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
In the first half, the Cougars held an 8-4 advantage in shots taken, but failed to score, as Florida Gulf Coast goalie Matthew Smith made four saves in the period.
In the second half, Charleston broke the scoreless tie just three minutes in, as George Khoury scored the first goal of his collegiate career off a Twohig assist. Florida Gulf Coast, however, knotted the match at one when Deion Jones scored in the 71st minute off a Francesco Distefano assist.
The match remained tied at one through the rest of regulation, thus forcing an overtime period. In overtime, Twohig scored the game-winner in the 99th minute off a rebound from a saved free kick at the right post. The goal was the first of his career, as Ralph Lundy, III was credited with an assist on the play.
Overall, Charleston held a 20-8 advantage in shots and a 12-6 edge in corner kicks. Cougar goalie Clark Hankins earned the victory making three saves in net, while Smith made six saves for FGCU.
Also, five Cougars were named to the All-Tournament Team. Leading the group was Matt Morris and Branko Gavric who were named the offensive and defensive MVP's for the tournament, respectively. The three other Charleston players selected were Hankins, Justin Fojo and John Bello.
Wofford 1, Mercer 0 (2OT)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford Men’s Soccer team won 1-0 in double overtime to the Mercer Bears Sunday afternoon at Wofford’s Snyder Field. Senior Nick Schuermann scored the game winning goal.
Wofford advances to 2-0-2 on the season while Mercer is 0-3-2 overall.
In the first half, Wofford controlled the pace of the game with great offensive pressure, as evidenced by an 8-1 advantage in shots in the half. Branson Hyatt had a shot go just high of the cross bar at the 13:05 mark, while Yakov Rubinchik had a shot wide and a shot saved during the 32nd minute of play. Eddie Nam’s chance at 36:18 went wide to the left of the net. Perhaps the best shot of the half came at 38:57 when Wilson Hood served the ball in and Philips Leach’s shot was saved by Brett Petricek on a diving play.
To begin the second half, Wofford continued to control the pace of the game. Mercer had a cross from Matt Brazer go through the box at the 63 minute mark, while Mercer’s Ian Cameron had a chance go just high two minutes later. The best chance of the game for the Terriers came at 67:52 when James Walker had a header that bounced off the cross bar. With just five minutes left in regulation, Paulo Bonfim took a cross from Bryan Eddy and his shot went just over the cross bar. At the end of the ninety minutes, the Terriers had a 16 to three advantage on shots.
In the first overtime, Wofford and Mercer both had three shots on goal and both goalies came up with two saves. In the second ten minutes, Eddie Nam had a shot blocked at 104:27 and Kentrel Owens had a header that was saved at 108:07. With 42 seconds remaining, Mercer goalie Brett Petricek was issued a yellow card in the box, resulting in a penalty kick for the Terriers. Nick Schuermann took the shot and went left, while the goalie went right and the Terriers won the game.
The Terriers at 2-0-2 are off to the best start since the team went 4-0 to begin the 1990 season.
The Wofford Men’s Soccer team will play again at home September 25 against Belmont at 7 p.m.
Appalachian State 1, West Virginia 1
WILMINGTON, N.C. - J.J. Elder knocked home his first career goal to tie the score as Appalachian State University men’s soccer tied West Virginia 1-1 Sunday afternoon in Wilmington.
West Virginia (1-1-2) took the lead in the seventh minute when Alex Silva converted on a penalty kick.
Appalachian knotted the score at one when Elder grabbed control of a loose ball and fired a shot past the WVU keeper from 10 yards out.
Arie Muniz led ASU with three shots on the day, including two in the second half that were stopped by WVU goalkeeper Zach Johnson.
In overtime the teams combined for just one shot, a Brennen Smith shot that went wide.
West Virginia held an 8-7 advantage in shots while ASU led in corner kicks 8-5.
Collin Taylor made one save in goal for Appalachian and Johnson made four saves for West Virginia.
Muniz, Taylor and Mark Bridges were named to the all-tournament team while Muniz was named the offensive MVP.
The Apps return to action on Friday when they play Winthrop at 2:30 p.m. at the Charlotte tournament.
Georgia Southern 2, Oregon State 2
SPOKANE, Wash. - Georgia Southern (0-4-1) rallied from a two-goal deficit late in the second half to tie the finale of the Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic against Oregon State (3-0-2) 2-2. The Eagles held on in two overtimes against the #6 ranked team in the Far West Region to record the tie.
Jon Cox and Danny Hall scored Georgia Southern's two goals within minutes of each other in the second half. Hall recorded the first goal off a penalty kick in the 78th minute. Cox tied the match at the 79:50 mark off a pass from David Leonard.
The Eagles out-shot the Beavers 15-12 and recorded six shots on goal to Oregon State's four.
Cox started the match with a shot from the top of the penalty box that sailed right of the net in the first minute.
The Beavers recorded a pair of corner kicks in the 2nd minute. The second corner kick led to their first shot on goal. Mike Gubosh made the save on Colin Mitchell's long header. Gubosh made his first start of the season and recorded two saves in 110 minutes.
Mitchell came right back with another shot attempt in the 7th minute but hit the post from 18 yards out.
Oregon State went down a man in the 8th minute when Chris Miller was red carded on a breakaway by Rich Heyer. Matt Crowell took the ensuing free kick from 20 yards out but hit the Beavers' wall.
Oregon State recorded their first goal in the 28th minute. Mitchell scored on his third shot attempt off a long pass from Jake Parker.
The Eagles controlled the ball in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Crowell took Georgia Southern's second corner of the half at the 33:33 mark. Crowell took another shot from 30 yards out, but it sailed high. Aleksandar Tomic took his first shot in the 40th minute but missed to the left of the net. Witt Carlisle put a shot on target at the 41:49 mark. Carlisle's shot forced the goalkeeper to make a diving save to his right.
The Eagles recorded a pair of corner kicks in the 58th minute.
Matt Starks recorded a shot on goal in the 61st minute, but Steve Spangler came up with the save. Three minute later, Hall launched a free kick from 18 yards out that forced Spangler to make another save.
The Beavers went back on the attack in the 66th minute and got their second goal off a free kick from Danny Mwanga. Mwanga's shot went over the wall and into the right side of the net.
Hall was fouled in the 78th minute and was awarded the Eagle's first penalty kick of the season. Hall placed it in the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
Less than two minutes later, Cox tied the match with a goal in the 80th minute. Joe Madigan crossed the ball to Leonard, who set up Cox from 16 yards out.
Cox recorded his second shot on goal minutes later with a hard shot from 10 yards out. Spangler came up with a chest high save to deny the Eagles their first lead of the match.
The first overtime period saw only one shot, and the game proceeded to the second overtime. Georgia Southern recorded a pair of shots in the second overtime period but were unable to score the winning goal. Crowell launched a high shot from 30 yards out that went over the net in the 106th minute. Tomic recorded his third shot at the 108:50 mark but missed high.
The Eagles return to action next Sunday with a match against Mercer at 5 p.m.
Coastal Carolina 3, Davidson 1
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Looking to close out the Davidson adidas Classic with a perfect mark, the Wildcat men’s soccer team came up short as they fell by the count of 3-1 to Coastal Carolina, led by James Stapleton’s two goals and an assist on Sunday afternoon in the last game of the classic at Alumni Stadium.
Earning a nod on the adidas Classic All-Tournament Team for the Wildcats was Charlie Reiter, who netted his second goal of the season against the Chanticleers, along with Alex Caskey. Georgetown placed four players on the all-tournament team, while Coastal had three, and UNC Asheville and Davidson each placed two players on the team.
In the earlier game on Sunday afternoon, Georgetown defeated UNC Asheville 2-0.
Davidson suffered its first setback of the season to fall to 2-1-0, while Coastal Carolina ran its overall mark to 2-2-1. The Wildcats won its first game of the Classic on Friday, 2-0, over UNC Asheville.
The scoring started early with Coastal Carolina netting the first goal at the 1:52 mark when they fired off a shot in the box, only to have it saved by the Wildcat’s Chip Sanders (Thomasville, Ga.), but the shot rebounded to Riley Phelps and he found the back of the net for a 1-0 Coastal lead.
Davidson continued to pressure the Chanticleers defense and knotted things up in the 19th minute on a nice play by Reiter. After two touches in the box by junior Yannick Pilgrim and freshman Brian McGue, the ball was sent in the air where Reiter prefectly timed it, jumping and kicking it out of the air over the head of the Coastal Carolina goalkeeper to the top shelf to tie things up at 1-apiece.
The tie would hold for the rest of the half and was that way until the 49th minute when Stapleton went one-on-two in the Wildcat backfield and put a shot past a diving Sanders to the left post, and Davidson trailed 2-1.
Coastal added an insurance goal at the 72:56 mark of the second half behind Stapleton again. After the Chanticleers’ earned a free kick midway past midfield on the Wildcat side, the ball was shifted from the far side to the near sideline, when Austin Eanes sent a cross into the box and it was taken out of the air by Stapleton with a header to the far post for a 3-1 advantage for Coastal.
Prior to that, the ?Cats had a couple of great opportunities to hit the equalizer and tie things up at 2-all, but just missed out. In the 54th minute, Reiter sent a corner kick into the box where Yannick Pilgrim missed a header that sailed just over the crossbar.
Then a few minutes later, the Wildcats drew an obstruction foul in the box that set up a free kick just outside the six-yard box. Caskey lined up and fired a shot at the Chanticleers’ wall that was blocked and then had another shot that went high.
Davidson finished with a 17-8 advantage in shots, but put only two of those shots on goal. The Wildcats also had 14 corner kicks, getting four of those in the last nine minutes of play.
Sanders came up with two saves in goal for the ?Cats, while Coastal’s Taylor Kelliher had one.
Davidson takes a few days off before hitting the road for its next three contests, starting with a 7 p.m. game at Radford, Sept. 16.