Elon 4, Richmond 0
ELON, N.C. - The Elon men's soccer team got on the board early and often en route to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Richmond Spiders in the Elon Classic on Saturday night in the first contest of 2010 at Rudd Field. The Phoenix (1-2-0) got goals from four different players in the squad's first shutout of the season. With the clean slate, Clint Irwin became Elon's all-time career shutout leader with 20 shutouts. The loss was Richmond's first of the season as the Spiders dropped to 1-1-1.
"We played quite well tonight with the reason being that we played the game at the right tempo from the first whistle," said Elon head coach Darren Powell. "Scoring goals gave our guys more and more confidence to keep playing. The key now is to prepare ourselves for a strong Jacksonville team with less that 48 hours between games."
Junior James Carroll netted the first goal of the season for the Phoenix in the ninth minute of action to give Elon the early 1-0 lead. On Elon's third corner kick of the early minutes, freshman midfielder Daniel Lovitz served a perfect ball into the box and found the head of Carroll who netted the score from about six yards out.
The Phoenix controlled possession in the first 45 minutes. Sophomore Chris Thomas nearly added to the Elon lead in the 16th minute, as Brad Franks found Thomas wide to the left. The forward's shot went just wide of the near post.
At the 39:42 mark, Phoenix forward Gabe Latigue tacked on Elon's second goal of the evening. Defender Nick Butterly sent a through ball from the midfield and found Latigue in the right side of the box. The Elon sophomore hooked the ball to the near post past a Richmond defender and Spider keeper Brock Tomlinson.
The Phoenix didn't let up and less than a minute later added its third goal of the half. Lovitz got his second assist of the night, crossing the ball to the right side of the box where Hunter Miller drilled the score to the far corner from about 15 yards out.
Elon continued to be impressive in the final half, scoring yet again in the 51st minute. On the left side of the field, Latigue passed the ball to Franks just inside the top of the box. Franks tapped it to Thomas who lofted the shot over Tomlinson's head for the 4-0 advantage.
Elon outshot Richmond 18-2 in the contest and racked up eight corner kicks compared to two by the Spiders. Irwin made one save in his record-breaking performance.
In the first game of the Elon Classic, Jacksonville defeated UNC Greensboro, 2-1.
The Phoenix will be back in action on Sunday, Sept. 12 for the final match of the Classic. Elon will take on Jacksonville at 2:30 p.m. at Rudd Field.
Furman 4, Detroit 3 (2 OT)
Greenville, S.C. -- Fabien Vorbe headed in a Josh Lietch cross in the 106th minute to give Furman a 4-3 double overtime victory over the Detroit Titans in the opening round of the 2010 Diadora/Spinx Furman Invitational on Friday evening at Stone Stadium.
Lietch, a freshman from Atlanta, Ga., found space on the left side and sent a cross to the far post that Vorbe headed off of the crossbar and straight down into the goal mouth at 105:25 for match winner.
The goal completed Furman's comeback from a two-goal first deficit as the Paladins improved to 2-1-0 on the season. With the loss, Detroit fell to 0-2-1.
The Titans opened the scoring in the ninth minute as Ya Ya Toure finished at the left post on assists from Ken Simon and Nate Robinson. Detroit doubled its lead in the 31st minute. Adam Bedell delivered a ling throw in into the box from in front of the Furman bench that Moustafa Bazzi pushed across the line at the near post.
Furman pulled a goal back less than two minutes later as Danny Hojaij played a pass wide to Vorbe on the left side of the box and the Port-au-Prince, Haiti native laced a 20-yard shot by Titan goalkeeper Martin Robertson from just outside the box for his first goal of the night.
At the 36:26 mark, Caleb Suri was taken down as he attempted to turn the corner on his defender in the right side of the box. After Simon of Detroit was issued back-to-back yellow cards and sent off, Suri stepped to the penalty spot and fired past Robertson to level the match at 2-2.
Despite being a man down, the Titans regained the lead just three minutes into the second half as Toure worked the ball into the box and played a square ball to Otiento Victor who backheeled a shot past Furman keeper Alec Kann at 48:03.
Michael Gandier notched the equalizer for the Paladins in the 68th minute rising above the Detroit defense to head in a Suri free kick at the right post for his second goal of the season.
Furman held a 27-6 edge in shot attempts on the night but managed just an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal. There were a total of six cards handed out, including four to Detroit players.
In the opening match of the day, Stetson (2-0-0) and the College of Charleston (0-2-1) played to a 1-1 draw Fredrik Brustad scored in the 65th minute for the Hatters before the Cougars knotted the match on Andy Craven's 78th minute tally.
The tournament concludes on Sunday with Detroit facing Charleston at noon before Furman entertains Stetson at 2:30 p.m.
Davidson 2, #13 UC Santa Barbara 2 (2 OT)
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Davidson men's soccer junior defender Greg Macnamara's second-career goal proved to be the final equalizer as junior goalkeeper Chip Sanders made a career-high 10 saves to preserve a 2-2 double-overtime draw with No. 13 UC Santa Barbara on a foggy Friday night in Harder Stadium.
Macnamara (Arlington, Va.) tied the match with 20 minutes remaining in regulation off a set piece. Fellow team captain, senior Alex Caskey (Dunwoody, Ga.), sent a free kick on goal, and Macnamara was there to knock the rebound in for the goal. After being outshot by the Wildcats (2-0-2) 10-6 in the second half, UCSB (0-2-2) fired nine shots during the two, 10-minute overtime frames to Davidson's one, with six coming in the second OT period. Sanders (Thomasville, Ga.) came through though and made four saves in overtime to keep UCSB from taking the victory late.
Despite being outshot 7-3 in the first half with junior forward Mark Millard's (Oak Ridge, N.C.) goal standing as the lone shot on goal, the 'Cats did not back down and controlled play for the majority of the second half. The match opened up late as UCSB rallied and forced Sanders to make four saves over the last 13 minutes of regulation, but the 'Cats were just as productive, forcing UCSB goalkeeper Sam Hayden to make four saves over the same stretch.
Millard scored the first goal of the match off a corner kick, sending the ball along the goal line, where it deflected off a UCSB defender and into the goal in the 11th minute. The lead was short-lived though, as Luis Silva slipped a through ball to Sam Garza, who scored for the equalizer in the 17th minute. UCSB scored the go-ahead goal in the 26th minute as Garza sent a cross into the six-yard box where Michael Tetteh put it in the back of the net.
UCSB finished with a 22-14 advantage in shots, with Hayden making five saves.
Davidson will continue their West Coast trip Sunday, taking on No. 17 UCLA at 3 p.m. Pacific, 6 p.m. Eastern.
College of Charleston 1, Stetson 1 (2 OT)
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The College of Charleston men's soccer team battled Stetson to a 1-1 draw in its opening game in the Spinx / Diadora Invitational hosted by Furman.
CofC is now 0-2-1 on the year while Stetson moved to 1-0-1.
Fredrik Brustad put Stetson ahead in the 65th minute with a shot from the left side of the field that found its way into the side netting.
CofC kept forcing chances until Andy Craven (St. Simon's Island, Ga.) connected from 20 yards out in the 78th minute to equalize. Sean De Silva (Port of Spain, Trinidad) picked up an assist on the play.
The teams played two overtime periods but neither could net the game winner.
CofC was in control for much of the contest and benefited from a 24-15 shot advantage, including a 13-6 advantage in the second half. The Cougars also had seven corner-kick opportunities, three of which came in the second overtime.
Kees Heemskerk (Zaandam, Holland) played all 110 minutes in net and tallied six saves.
The Cougars will play Detroit Mercy at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12 to round out play in the Invitational.
Cincinnati 0, Appalachian State 0 (2 OT)
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team played to a scoreless draw against Appalachian State on Friday (Sept. 10) night in Gettler Stadium.
The Bearcats (1-0-2) stay unbeaten on the season and post the second shutout in three matches. Appalachian State is yet to be beaten this season, moving to 1-0-2 in 2010.
Cincinnati outshot the Mountaineers, 15-5, and has posted 43 shots over its last two matches with only a single goal to show for it.
UC nearly broke through in the early stages when Branden Stelmak (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) saw a header clang off the crossbar in the eighth minute.
That would be the best chance of the half and maybe of the entire match, as both clubs clamped down defensively. UC outshot the Mountaineers, 6-1, in the stanza.
The second half saw more physical play and few quality scoring chances. Three yellow cards were handed out and 24 fouls were called from the start of the second half through the final whistle.
UC had a quality opportunity in the 75th minute when Tristan Watson (Brampton, Ontario/Lakeland C.C.) was taken down just outside the 18-yard box. The free kick was taken by Andre Sharpe (St. Catharine, Jamaica/Graceland), who sent his right-footed blast just over the crossbar.
Goalkeeper Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) made just one save, but came up big on several crossing passes and corner kicks, punching the ball out of harm's way. He picked up his second shutout of the season and the 13th of his career, moving into sole possession of sixth place on the school's shutout list.
The Bearcats will take on Fordham on Sunday, Sept. 12, in Gettler Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. as UC looks to stay unbeaten on the campaign.
Wofford 0, VCU 0 (2 OT)
CONWAY, S.C. - The Wofford College men's soccer team battled VCU to a scoreless draw in the opening game of the Coastal Carolina/Adidas Invitational.
With the tie, VCU runs its record to 1-1-1 on the season, while defending Southern Conference champ Wofford is now 0-2-1.
The Rams, who held an 8-1 advantage in shots during the opening period, fired five straight to start the match, before Wilson Hood hit the post for Wofford in the 25th minute.
VCU pressured early in the contest and forced Wofford goalkeeper Andrew Drennan to make a stop on a strike from Gehin-Scott just five minutes into the match and another at the 39:59 mark.
Rams goalkeeper Gabriel Rodriguez registered a pair of saves in the first seven minutes of the second half as Wofford came out on the attack. Rodriguez made another stop in the 69th minute to keep the Terriers off the board.
Drennan then turned away a shot by VCU senior Lucas Paulini with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation but it was as close as either team would get before the extra frames.
Both squads battled for possession in the first overtime as Wofford managed just one shot. In the final frame, VCU registered three corner kicks but neither team could find the net.
VCU held a slim 10-8 margin in shots and a 5-2 advantage in corners. Wofford was called for 16 fouls while the Rams were charged with 10.
Jacksonville 2, UNCG 1
ELON, N.C. - Eli Garner scored on a penalty kick with 14:07 to play, but UNCG could not follow up with an equalizer as Jacksonville defeated the Spartans, 2-1, in the first match of the Elon Classic on Friday night.
Jacksonville won its third consecutive match - all by 2-1 scores - to move to 3-1-0 on the season. UNCG lost its second straight match to fall to 1-2-0 on the season.
The Spartans outshot Jacksonville, 14-9, on the night, but six saves by Jacksonville's Johnny Foley gave the Dolphins a big lift.
Anthony Forde gave Jacksonville a 1-0 lead 8:07 into the match when his shot banged off the far post and into the net from 10 yards out.
The Dolphins extended it to a 2-0 lead when Darko Karamatic tallied his fourth goal in the last three matches. He knocked home a long free kick at 27:25 to give Jacksonville a two-goal advantage.
The Spartans got on the board at 75:53 when Garner scored on a penalty kick. It was his second goal of the season.
UNCG returns to action Sunday when it faces Richmond at 12 noon in another match at the Elon Classic.
High Point 1, Georgia Southern 0
HIGH POINT, N.C. - Georgia Southern dropped a tough match to open the Flash Gordon Motors Invitation, falling 1-0 to host High Point (3-1-0) Friday night (September 10). The Eagles fell to 1-2-0 on the season with the loss.
After a scoreless first half, Fejiro Okiomah gave the Panthers a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Okiomah got the ball from Shane Malcolm and beat Georgia Southern goalkeeper Ryan Platt (Preston, England) in the 48th minute.
Platt made three saves, facing four shots on goal from High Point. The Eagles got three shots on frame, but were unable to beat High Point goalkeeper Michael Chesler.
Freshman Hunter Norton (Evans, Ga.) led the Eagles with three shots in a physical contest which saw four yellow cards handed out to each team.
Georgia Southern will wrap up play at the Flash Gordon Motors Invitation against Radford on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. in High Point, N.C.