UNCG 1, #11 Duke 0
Aug. 21
DURHAM, N.C. - Matt Strine's score with 2:01 left in the second half to break a scoreless tie as UNCG stunned Duke, 1-0, in preseason men's soccer action Saturday night.
Strine scored off of a scrum with just a shade over two minutes left. Aaron Reifschneider threw the ball in from the side and after a bunch of players in the box couldn't control the ball, it found the foot of Strine with just 2:01 to play to eventually give UNCG the exhibition victory. The Blue Devils have been ranked as high as No. 11 in the preseason polls.
"I'm so proud of the start we have made thus far. The boys showed a great deal of determination tonight against a very talented Duke team," said interim head coach Justin Maullin. "To beat an ACC team on the road is a huge achievement for our young team."
"We are still waiting to put all the pieces together while we wait for a few more of our guys to get cleared through the NCAA clearinghouse. We have a few guys that aren't truly healthy, either, so we had to take care of that, too, tonight," said Maullin "We have only been training for four days, so there is still a lot of work to be done. I believe that we have talent and tonight that talent worked hard and showed some fight. I can't be anything but happy with the result."
Duke had a 22-6 advantage in shots on the night. Peyton Ford, the starting goalkeeper for UNCG had six saves. Davis Griffin, who earned the win in relief, made two saves. Ford worked the first 61 minutes of the match before giving way to Griffin.
James Beishaw worked the first 59 minutes for the Blue Devils in goal before giving way to Jan Trnka-Amrhein, who surrendered the game-winner.
UNCG will face North Carolina next Saturday at UNCG Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.
AGATE
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
UNCG................ 0 1 - 1
Duke University..... 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY: UNCG Matt Strine (Aaron Reifschneider) 87:59; Shots: UNCG 6, Duke University 22. Saves: UNCG 8 (Davis Griffin 2; Peyton Ford 6), Duke University 2 (James Belshaw 2). Corner Kicks: UNCG 1, Duke 6. Fouls: UNCG 20, Duke 9.
Georgia Southern 1, Mercer 0
Aug. 21
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Men's Soccer Team won its first exhibition of the 2010 season, defeating Mercer 1-0 Saturday in a weather shortened contest at Eagle Field.
Jon Cox (Alpharetta, Ga.) scored the game winner, blasting a free-kick off a member of the Mercer defensive wall and past a diving Dan VanValkinburgh into the right side of the goal in the 53rd minute.
The Eagles out-shot the Bears 4-2 in the match, with Cox taking two shots and Luigi Clendening (Augusta, Ga.) taking two shots. Ryan Platt (Preston, England) started the game in goal, and was relieved by Neal Bates (Watkinsville, Ga.) in the 61st minute. Neither goalkeeper was tested, as Mercer didn't get a shot on goal.
"I thought Jon (Cox) had a good game. Scoring a goal is always great for him, but he caused a lot of problems and, almost more importantly, his movement opened up spaces for other guys," Head Coach Kevin Kennedy said.
After a lengthy delay, the match was called with 18:18 left in the second half due to continuous lightning strikes in the area.
The Eagles next contest is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 25 against Lander University. The exhibition will begin at 4 p.m. at Eagle Field.
Wofford 1, ETSU 1
Aug. 21
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford men's soccer team competed on Snyder Field for the first time this season against East Tennessee State in an exhibition match that ended in a 1-1 draw. This match started the first of three exhibition matches scheduled for the Terrier's preseason matchups.
In a scrimmage that consisted of three 30 minute periods, the men's soccer club started the first period slow, but as the game progressed the team picked up the intensity, and showed an energy that showcased their progress made this preseason. The first period ended scoreless with Andrew Drennan having three saves and Andrew Eppelsheimer putting a low, hard-driven shot on frame from far outside the 18'.
The second period proved to be exciting as the swift duo of Kentrell Owens and freshman Dennis Moore worked up top at the forward positions. Blair Gaines was able to shoot a high floater toward the back of the net from the right wing, but it was stopped short by ETSU's Ronni Hreha. Owens was able to power a shot toward the net in the 11th minute from a beautiful lay-off by Moore, but it was saved as well. In the same minute of play, Billy Padula was able to launch a throw-in straight toward the near post that was ricochet hard into the back of the net by an ETSU player. Wofford took a 1-0 advantage and kept the lead into the third period. Andrew Drennan added two more saves to his total this period.
The third period gave fans a great preview of the talent that will be here for the next four years, as most all the freshman were able to get a touch on the field. The freshman Billy Padula was able to put up a shot on target in the tenth minute of the period. Late in the third period the Bucs tied the game up with a second chance rebound that was taken advantage of by ETSU's David Haba. As time expired in the third, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
The team's next exhibition match will be Tuesday, August 24th at 6:30 on Snyder field.
College of Charleston 1, Central Florida 1
Aug. 21
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston men's soccer team played the University of Central Florida to a 1-1 draw in Saturday evening's exhibition match. Tony Kattreh (Neptune Beach, Fla.) and Joey De Mare (Chapin, S.C.) made the most of their freshman debuts with a goal and an assist, respectively.
The teams played three thirty-minute periods to the eventual 1-1 tie.
CofC controlled the possession for most of the game and fired 22 shots in the match as a result. The Cougars put 13 of their shots on target while holding the Knights to just three total shots on the other end of the pitch.
"We have work to do but I saw some promising things," said head coach Ralph Lundy. "I was excited about our possession but I wish we would have scored more goals with 22 shots. We controlled the play but need to find the net."
Sophomore midfielder Sean De Silva (Port of Spain, Trinidad) was prominent in the Cougars' attack with a match-high five shots.
The Knights struck first with a goal in the 17th minute off the foot of A.J. Nelson. Nelson received the ball in the box off a well-played flick-on from Nicholas Keown-Robson and beat the Cougar keeper for the opening goal.
The Cougars equalized the match in the second period when the freshman pair of De Mare and Kattreh connected in the 52nd minute. De Mare lead a run into the box through the center of the field and found Kattreh lurking in the left side of the box. Kattreh received De Mare's entry pass and beat the Knight's helpless keeper to his right side.
The Cougars saw several quality chances down the stretch but were unable to convert the go-ahead goal.
"The biggest thing to work on moving forward will be box tactics," said Lundy. "We need to focus on our strategy once we get into the final third. We'll have to deal with runs, timing our runs, passing and moving without the ball to position ourselves to score more goals."
The Cougars will host another exhibition match against Presbyterian College on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. at Patriots Point.
Furman 3, Winthrop 2
Aug. 22
Rock Hill, S.C. - Mark Gabriel lashed a volley across the face of goal and into the left-side netting in the 78th minute to lift Furman to a 3-2 victory over Winthrop in men's exhibition soccer action on Sunday evening at Eagle Field in Rock Hill, S.C.
The Paladins and Eagles traded goals twice during the opening 45 minutes before Gabriel, a 2009 Southern Conference All-Freshman pick, bagged the match-winner from the right side of the box at the 77:20 mark.
"It was good to finally play against another team for the first time during preseason training and it was a good test against a Winthrop team that went to the NCAA Tournament last year," said Furman head coach Doug Allison. "We took some nice goals, but we have plenty of things that we can go back and work on in training this week."
Eric Cobleigh put the Paladins in front at 19:34 running onto a long ball from Nicky McKain. He touched the long service past the charging keeper and deposited a shot into an empty net. After Winthrop equalized on a 35-yard chip over the goalkeeper's head by Miguel Casajuana at 24:57, Danny Hojaij hammered home Furman's second goal on an assist from Dane Roberts just 30 seconds later to put the visitors back in the lead.
The Eagles Andres Pullin headed in Winthrop's second goal in the 27th minute.
Each team totaled eight shots while Furman held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.
Furman plays its final preseason tune-up on Friday when it hosts third-ranked Wake Forest. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Stone Soccer Stadium.
Appalachian State 2, Radford 2
Aug. 23
RADFORD, Va. - Appalachian State University men's soccer played Radford to a 2-2 tie in exhibition action Sunday afternoon at Cupp Stadium.
Junior Chad Dalton's header off sophomore Luis Calzadilla's corner gave the Mountaineers a 1-0 advantage just 18 minutes into the game.
Shortly after Radford's Luis Grande evened the score 1-1, senior Antonio Harley put away junior Sean Dreybus's shot attempt, which caromed off the fingers of Highlander goalkeeper Joey Dennis to push Appalachian State back in front with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Radford's Anthony Payne scored the last goal of the match on a long Bernardo Ulmo cross over the defense to set up the 2-2 tie.
Appalachian State finished with a 10-7 edge in shots, while both teams attempted two corner kicks.
The two teams agreed prior to the contest to play two 45 minute halves regardless of the score at the end of regulation.
ASU will play their final pre-season match on Sat., Aug. 28, at UNC-Asheville with action starting at 7 p.m.
Radford 2, Appalachian State 2
Radford, Va. - Cupp Stadium
ASU (17:59) - Chad Dalton (Calzadilla)
RU (61:13) - Luis Grande (Awosika)
ASU (69:07) - Antonio Harley (unassisted)
RU (80:21) - Anthony Payne (Ulmo)
Shots: Appalachian State 10, Radford 7
Corner Kicks: Radford 2, Appalachian State 2
Saves: Radford 3 (Dennis 3), Appalachian State 2 (Branson 1, Free 1)
Wofford 7, Newberry 0
Aug. 24
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - In the second of three preseason exhibition matchups, the men's soccer team blistered Newberry 7-0 in a match that consisted of three 40 minute periods. The Terriers dominated every category, having 33 shots compared to Newberry's six and put 17 of those shots on frame.
Coach Polson's squad displayed a fiery, competitive spirit for 120 minutes of play. During the week, Coach Polson told the team he wanted them to win the game in the first ten minutes, and sure enough the Terriers entered the game tearing down the gates. In the 11th minute, Kenny Owens was able to squeak past the keeper and skim the ball across the goal line to put the first points on the board. Soon after, Wilson Hood punched a header off a cross toward the right side of the net, but Newberry's Patrick Sweatt was able to nudge it out with a fingertip save. Hood redeemed himself with a goal in the 27th minute. He was able to capitalize on a rebound inside the box, delivered off a cross from Eddie Nam. Andrew Drennan and the Terrier backfield were able to hold the Wolves scoreless in the first period after taking the two goal advantage. Drennan made three saves from the goalkeeper position.
The Terriers brought the same intensity from the first period into the second, as they were able to take 18 shots throughout the 40 minutes. Early in the second period, freshman Dennis Moore took advantage of a through ball from Andrew Eppelsheimer as he knocked in the third goal of the match. In the 54th minute, Alex Hutchins was able to slip past the defense and put a shot on frame, but it was deflected off the goalkeeper's foot. Logan Threadgill made the most of the rebound and one-timed the ball just over the crossbar. Wofford took ten more shots during the period, but was unable to put another in the back of the net.
In the final period, freshman Alan Gore and Will O'Brien took over the show. In the 109th minute Gore was able to stream in a goal off an assist by Paulo Bonfim, and O'Brien went one shy of a hat trick, knocking in two goals on his own. Senior Armin Kinigadner also scored a goal off a penalty kick committed in the 95th minute. Goalkeeper Ethan Kilby was able to keep the Wolves out of the net and earn the shutout.
Coach Polson took advantage of the extended match, as every player who wasn't injured was able to get field experience. The team looked energetic, creative and spirited throughout the entire exhibition. A key component to the match was the defenses' ability to keep Newberry at bay with only six shots. They kept the Wolves scoreless the entire 120 minutes of play.
The men's soccer team will return to Snyder Field this Saturday, August 28th, at 6:00 pm to take on the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College. This will be the final exhibition match of the preseason.
College of Charleston 2, Presbyterian 1
Aug. 25
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston men's soccer team bested the Presbyterian College Blue Hose in an exhibition match on Wednesday evening. The Cougars scored early but allowed PC to equalize before striking again to lift themselves to the 2-1 victory.
The Cougars controlled possession for the majority of the contest and produced several quality looks at goal. The Cougars mustered 19 shots, 10 of which were on frame while the Blue Hose fired 13 shots and seven on frame.
The Cougars' three-man keeper rotation managed six saves on the evening. Head coach Ralph Lundy checked 26 players into the game.
"We probably should have scored some goals earlier than that," said Lundy. "We're not making the right plays when we have the opportunities. I am proud of our recovery though and the fact that we played better later in the match."
The Cougars struck first in the fifth minute when Kareem Yearwood (Sousou Lands, Tobago) received a ball at the top of the box with his back to the goal. Yearwood made a strong turn to net and evaded a defender before beating the keeper to his right-hand side for the goal.
PC equalized the match in the final minute of the second period off a 35-yard set piece taken by Lewis Makin. Makin sent a ball into the box on a set piece from 35 yards. Luke Ade beat his man in the box and headed the ball past the Cougar keeper to tie the match at 1-1.
The Blue Hose spent the opening minutes of the third period heavy on the attack and produced three corner-kick opportunities in the opening nine minutes. The Cougar defense weathered the attack, however, and the game remained equal.
CofC regained the lead midway through the third period by counter attacking on such an attempt. Ralph Lundy III (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) ran the ball up the left side of the field and played a ball deep into the box for Sean De Silva (Port of Spain, Trinidad). De Silva received the ball and dribbled down to the six-yard box before beating the keeper to the near post from a sharp angle.
The Cougars will play one final exhibition on Saturday, Aug. 28 at the University of South Carolina before opening the regular season with the Bert and Iris Wolstein Classic in Columbus, Ohio. CofC will face Ohio State and Penn State in the Classic, both of which finished in the top 15 in the 2009 NCAA Men's Soccer RPI.
Georgia Southern 4, Lander 1
Aug. 25
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Men's Soccer Team scored three second half goals to defeat Lander 4-1 in its second exhibition game of the season Wednesday (August 25) at Eagle Field.
The Bearcats found the net first, but the Eagles tied the game less than five minutes before halftime, sparking a second half scoring spree.
The Eagles evened the score just before halftime on a goal by freshman defender Drew Ruggles (Manassas, Va.). Senior Jon Cox (Alpharetta, Ga.) sent the ball in from just outside the 18-yard box, finding Ruggles, who got loose behind the Bearcat defense for the goal.
Freshman Hunter Norton (Evans, Ga.) scored what proved to be the game winner in the 68th minute, putting a long ball from Austin Steele (Kennesaw, Ga.). Luigi Clendening (Augusta, Ga.) got in the books with a goal in 73rd minute. Ethan LaPan (Martinez, Ga.) slid to get a touch on the ball before it was cleared, pushing it to the feet of Clendening, who found the back of the net.
Steele scored the Eagles' fourth goal on a penalty kick in the 78th minute, beating Lander goalkeeper Scott Playle, who came on at halftime for starter Matthew Atkinson, to the left side of the goal.
Lander struck first, getting a goal in the 24th minute by Matthew Bell, who chipped a long ball from goalkeeper Matthew Atkinson over the head of Eagle goalkeeper Ryan Platt (Preston, England).
The Eagles had an opportunity to take the lead late in the first half when Clendening got past the Bearcat goalkeeper, but his defended shot was stopped on the goal line by Lander defender Andy Ludewig.
Georgia Southern out-shot Lander 12-2, putting six shots on goal and four in the back of the net. Norton led the Eagles with three shots, two on frame, and one goal. Cox, Steele and LaPan each earned an assist in the contest.
The Eagles next contest is Saturday, Aug. 21, when they play host to Gardner-Webb in their final exhibition before the regular season. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Other Scores:
Davidson 1, North Carolina State 0
Elon 3, Campbell 0