College of Charleston 1, Air Force 0
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - A goal late in the first half by Zach Prince was the difference, as the College of Charleston men's soccer team knocked off Air Force 1-0 in game two of the 2009 NIKE/Aaron Olitsky Memorial Soccer Classic.
With the win, Charleston improved to 2-0-0 on the year, while Air Force fell to 0-1-0. In the day's first game, Old Dominion defeated Furman 2-1.
"I'm extremely happy with the effort our team had out on the field tonight against a very tough Air Force team," said head coach Ralph Lundy. "Air Force gave us everything they had and had a great performance from their goalie, but we found a way to gut out a win."
In the first half, the Cougars held a 5-3 edge in shots taken, as both team had several opportunities to score. Charleston finally sneaked a goal passed Air Force goalie Jim Gulio in the 40th minute, as Prince scored from just inside the box. Matt Morris recorded an assist on the play, which was his second in as many games.
In the second half, the Cougars took 10 shots, but were denied again and again by Gulio, who made five saves in the period. The Cougars, however, were almost as strong on the defensive end, as they held the Falcons to just one shot the entire period, en route to the victory.
For the night, the Cougars outshot the Falcons 15-4 and held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. Gulio made seven saves on the night, while Charleston goalie Clark Hankins earned a shutout victory after making a save on Air Force's only shot of the second half.
The 2009 NIKE/Aaron Olitsky Memorial Soccer Classic concludes on Sunday, Sept. 6, as Furman takes on Air Force at noon and Old Dominion faces off with Charleston at 2:30 p.m.
Old Dominion 2, Furman 1
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- Old Dominion’s Nane Joseph converted two second half penalty kicks to rally the Monarchs past Furman 2-1 on the opening day of the Nike/Aaron Olitsky Memorial Soccer Classic Friday afternoon in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
The win improves ODU to 2-0 on the season while the Paladins slipped to 1-1. Furman will take on Air Force at noon on Sunday at Patriots Point Athletics Complex and ODU will face host College of Charleston in the tournament finale following the Paladins’ showdown with the Falcons.
Furman took a quick 1-0 lead just 4:28 into the match as Fabien Vorbe scored from five yards out on an assist from senior Debola Ogunseye. Joseph evened the match in the 63rd minute beating Paladin goalkeeper Alec Kann after a foul in the box caused the Monarchs to be awarded a penalty kick.
At 78:26, ODU was awarded a second penalty kick and Kann was sent off after being shown the red card. Joseph converted his second goal of the match and the Monarchs held off the Paladins over the final 11 minutes to take the 2-1 win.
ODU compiled a 19-7 edge on shot attempts and Evan Newton recorded the win on goal with a pair of saves.
Charlotte 2, Elon 1
ELON, N.C. -- The Elon men's soccer team could not hold off a feisty Charlotte attack, dropping a 2-1 decision to the 49ers at Rudd Field on Friday evening. The Phoenix struck first on a strike by freshman Chris Thomas, but Charlotte battled back to score two unanswered goals and earn the victory. Elon falls to 0-2 on the season while Charlotte improves to 1-1.
"We are disappointed with the loss against a well-organized Charlotte team," said Elon head coach Darren Powell. "We found it difficult to break them down this evening. Our job now is to refocus, get back on the practice field and get ready for our next match."
Elon got on the board early, scoring in the seventh minute of action. Senior Steven Kinney drilled a long pass from the opposite end of the field, finding the foot of Thomas. Thomas outran two defenders and touched the ball behind Charlotte keeper David Martin to give Elon the early lead.
The teams continued to battle for possession throughout the first half. Charlotte pressured Elon's back line and found the back of the net for the equalizer at 26:52. Charlotte's Evan James served a short pass to the middle to Luke Exley who chipped it past Phoenix goalie Clint Erwin to tie the game. The game remained knotted at one at the half.
Charlotte controlled the attack for the early part of the second period, picking away at the Elon defense. In the 57th minute, James found Adam Gross on the right side of the goal box. Gross dribbled in and netted his second goal of the season on a shot from about 10 yards out to the far post.
The Phoenix was unable to answer, despite having several late opportunities, including a rocket off the foot of Gabe Latigue that Martin punch-saved over the goal.
Charlotte held a slight 11-9 advantage in shots and an 8-5 edge in corner kicks. Irwin collected two saves while Martin stopped three Elon shots.
The Phoenix will be on the road for the UNCG Classic next weekend. Elon battles Longwood on Friday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m.
Radford 3, Appalachian State 2
BOONE, N.C. - Radford scored two goals that went off Appalachian State defenders, including the game-winner, to take a 3-2 win on Friday night at the Appalachian Soccer Stadium.
The Highlanders scored the game-winner when James Jordan got the ball of a scramble to the right of the goal and took a shot that caromed off an ASU defender and into the night.
A ball going off a defender and into the goal was a common theme, as each team had an own goal as well. The Mountaineers struck first as Arie Muniz crossed a ball from the right and the ball was kicked into the back of the net by a Radford defender to give ASU the 1-0 lead.
Radford tied the score when Brian Gwanzura got the ball off a turnover and lofted a shot from 30 yards out over ASU keeper Drake Branson.
Radford took the lead just two minutes into the second half when an ASU defender deflected the ball past Branson.
The Mountaineers tied the score just four minutes later when Luis Calzadilla took a long throw-in from Mark Bridges and beat the keeper to the far right post.
Appalachian had several chances to tie the score in the final minutes, but a header by Muniz missed just wide right and a Nate Latigue shot was saved by Ryan Taylor.
The match was a physical contest that featured a combined 26 fouls. Appalachian outshot Radford 12-7 while the Highlanders had more corners, 7-3.
The Mountaineers are back in action Monday as they travel to Liberty to take on the Flames for a 6 p.m. match.
Evansville 3, UNC Greensboro 0
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? Ted Kreamalmeyer scored twice and added an assist as Evansville blanked UNC Greensboro, 3-0, in men’s soccer action Friday night at the Carolina Nike Classic.
Kreamalmeyer scored twice in the first half and then assisted on Mike Luttrull’s goal at 67:19 to close out the scoring.
Kreamalmeyer’s first tally came from six yards out at 22:28 off a crossing pass. He scored again 12 minutes later when he headed Blake Schneider’s cross for a two-goal lead.
Luttrull closed the scoring midway through the second half when he scored from the near post off of a cross by Kreamalmeyer.
The Purple Aces (1-1) held a 13-12 advantage in shots. Corner kicks were even at 6-6.
The loss snaped a six-game unbeaten streak for the Spartans (0-1). Nate Berry had three saves in goal for UNCG.
UNCG will face Northern Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Iona 2, Georgia Southern 0
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Georgia Southern Men's Soccer team dropped its season opener to Iona 2-0 Friday. The Eagles recorded five shots but were unable to score a goal.
Witt Carlisle recorded his first career shot on goal against the Gaels. Rich Heyer, Matt Crowell and Jon Cox all recorded shots in the match.
Joey Ralph made three saves in 90 minutes of action.
Iona scored two first half goals to take an early 2-0 lead. Giovanni Destasio beat the keeper off of a through pass in the 12th minute to give the Gaels the early advantage. Fernando Liserra scored the second goal off of a corner kick.
The Eagles continue play in the UCF Fall Classic Sunday against UCF at 2:30 p.m.