Davidson 6, Marist 1
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Senior Yannick Pilgrim and junior Mark Millard each scored twice as Davidson scored five unanswered goals, four coming in the second half, to take a 6-1 victory over Marist in the Wildcat men's soccer team's season opener Saturday night at Alumni Stadium.
The match was the second of the Davidson adidas Classic. Appalachian State and Bowling Green played to a scoreless draw earlier in the evening.
Millard (Oak Ridge, N.C.) scored the game's first goal 13:50 in, taking a pass from midfield and chipping it over challenging keeper Joe Pilla to give Davidson (1-0) and early lead. Marist (1-1) hung with the 'Cats though, and equalized the match with a goal at the 30:06 mark. Krystian Witkowski dribbled around the top of the six-yard box and took advantage of a defensive miscue to blast a hard shot inside the right post.
Pilgrim (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago) was able to put the 'Cats back on top just before intermission, scoring a goal that nearly mirrored Millard's, tapping the ball in past a challenging Pilla.
Davidson took over in the second half. A cross from Millard deflected off Pilla and right to the foot of Pilgrim, who buried it for a 3-1 'Cats advantage. Millard extended the lead less than three minutes later when a cross attempt hit the post and bounced in for a goal.
Sophomore Peter Paras (Dublin, Ohio) notched his second career goal at 70:11, sending a laser into the top left corner of the net from 35 yards out. A cross from senior Peter Shelton (Cary, N.C.) deflected off a Marist defender for an own goal at 81:54 to cap the scoring.
Sophomore goalkeeper Chip Sanders (Thomasville, Ga.) made five saves to earn the win. Pilla made 2 saves as Davidson outshot Marist 19-11.
Davidson will return to action Sunday when they face Bowling Green at 1 p.m. Appalachian State and Marist will play immediately after to conclude the tournament.
Notes: The 6-1 margin was the largest for a Davidson season opener since 1971 when the 'Cats took an 8-1 win over Methodist ... Millard entered the game with one career goal ... he started at forward, taking since-graduated Southern Conference Player of the Year Charlie Reiter's place in the lineup.
Appalachian State 0, Bowling Green 0 (2 OT)
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Neither team was able to get on the board as Appalachian State men's soccer (0-0-1) played Bowling Green (0-0-1) to a 0-0 tie to open their 2010 regular season slate.
As with their preseason exhibition matches, the Mountaineers attacked the goal, outshooting the Falcons, 20-7. In regulation the Apps outshot BGSU 15-6 and in overtime ASU edged their opponent, 5-1 in the shot department.
Senior Steven Sassano (Gastonia, N.C./Forestview) had a game-high seven shots, with one of those coming close to scoring. Junior Sean Dreybus (Newport News, Va./Warwick) was next with three shots.
Ryan Comiskey was the only Falcon to attempt a shot on the goal during the match and junior Collin Taylor (Morganton, N.C./Freedom) stopped that shot for his only save of the match.
Appalachian held the advantage on the corner kick side, attempting nine corner kicks to BGSU's three.
"It was great to get the first game out of the way," said head coach Shaun Pendleton. "The players played very well and we are disappointed not to come away from the game with a win after hitting the woodwork so many times. I am glad we did not give a goal away and overall we are still moving forward with the program."
The Apps return to action on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 3:15 p.m., taking on Marist from Alumni Stadium as part of the final of the Davidson adidas Classic.
#14 Ohio State 1, College of Charleston 0
COLUMBUS, OHIO - The College of Charleston men's soccer team fell, 1-0, in its opening match of the Bert and Iris Wolstein Classic at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Friday night action. The Cougars were kept off the board and allowed a 24th-minute goal to fall, 1-0.
The Cougars are now 0-1-0 on the year and the No. 10 Buckeyes are 1-0-0.
"We started out slow in the match and they were able to capitalize on it," said head coach Ralph Lundy. "We looked a lot better in the second and were able to create some attacking chances but couldn't find the net."
The Buckeyes converted in the 24th minute with a strike by Chris Hegngi and assists from Sam Scales and Omar Vallejo.
The Cougars were outshot in the contest by a 16-11 margin. Andy Craven (St. Simon's Island, Ga.) led the Cougars with three shots. Kareem Yearwood (Sousou Island, Tobago); Sean De Silva (Port of Spain, Trinidad); and Ralph Lundy, III (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) each fired two shot attempts for the Cougars.
Freshman goalkeeper Kees Heemskerk (Zaandam, Holland) went the distance in net for the Cougars and registered six saves.
The Cougars will round out their participation in the tournament with a Sunday afternoon contest at 12 p.m. against Penn State.
"We definitely have a tough test in Penn State on Sunday," said Lundy. "Hopefully we can take what we did in the second half of tonight's game and put two halves together to come away with a win."