Georgia Southern 3, Lander 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Men's Soccer put a winning cap on the 2011 preseason training camp with a 3-0 win over Lander on Sunday, August 21st. Freshman David Vargas Masís tallied two of the Eagles three goals which were all scored in the first half.
In an interview with Eagle Vision, Head Coach Kevin Kennedy discussed his thoughts on the match. "I thought David Vargas Masís was exceptional taking the two goals, as well as Witt (Carlisle) scoring a goal off the bench gave us a cushion at halftime. In the second half I thought Lander was better on the ball than we were and they really caused us some problems. We certainly have some work to do before starting the season next Saturday."
David Vargas Masís (Cartago, Costa Rica) struck early to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Drew Ruggles (Manassas, Va.) got the ball back on a short corner overlap and dished a through-ball pass to the onsides Vargas Masís who got behind the Lander defense. He scored the goal one-on-one against the goalkeeper from five yards out.
A thunderstorm passing through the Statesboro area called a halt to the proceedings in the 15th minute, but after a 45 minute delay the teams returned to the pitch.
Vargas Masis doubled his goals tally in the 26th minute with a strike from eight yards out past the Lander goalkeeper. Hunter Norton (Evans, Ga.) played the through ball that put the Eagle striker in on goal.
With just 10 minutes left before the halftime break, junior substitute Witt Carlisle (Alpharetta, Ga.) scored his first goal of the preseason, 15 yards from goal. Ruggles played the forward in for his second assist of the match as the Eagles amassed a 3-0 lead.
Three goals would be enough as the Georgia Southern defense recorded its second clean sheet of the preseason. Senior Ryan Platt (Preston, England) made two first half saves in his 45 minutes of action while Neal Bates (Watkinsville, Ga.) also made two stops in the second half of the match.
Georgia Southern opens the 2011 campaign in just six days on the road against North Florida. Kickoff for the 2011 curtain raiser is at 7 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla.
UNCG 3, UNC Pembroke 2
GREENSBORO, N.C.-Hakan Ilhan scored a pair of goals to lead UNCG to a 3-2 exhibition victory over UNC Pembroke, Saturday at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
Ilhan put the Spartans on the board in the 19th minute, scoring off a Brian Graham cross from the right side.
The Braves tied the match in the 25th minute when Sean Hoek stole the ball at 30 yards and beat UNCG keeper Davis Griffin one-on-one, knotting the score at 1-1.
Ilhan put UNCG back on top in the 40th minute, scoring an unassisted goal when a UNCP defender misplayed a ball in the box and giving the Spartans a 2-1 advantage.
Freshman Austin Miller provided the Spartans what appeared to be a comfortable 3-1 lead in the 69th minute when he out-hustled a UNCP defender for a ball along the end line and raced uncontested toward the goal. Miller knocked a shot past goalkeeper Joe Cullip for a two-goal lead.
Hoek, however, trimmed UNCG's advantage to 3-2 in the 88th minute, scoring in the box off an assist from Matt MacDougall. But after that the Braves couldn't muster any more offense.
Despite the close final score the Spartans controlled the match, out-shooting the Braves 16-11.
UNCG keepers Griffin and Stephen Moffitt each played 45 minutes. Griffin made two saves on four shots, while Moffitt made three stops on five shots.
The Spartans open the regular season when they host preseason No. 23 Duke, 8 p.m., Friday, August 26 at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
Elon 1, No. 15 South Carolina 1 (2 OT)
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Behind a goal from junior transfer Jordan Smith, the Elon men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw against the 15th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks at Stone Stadium on Saturday night in the final exhibition game of the season for the Phoenix. Smith has scored both Elon goals during the two preseason contests this season.
South Carolina held the slim 11-10 advantage in shots on the evening, with Elon sophomore midfielder Daniel Lovitz leading the way with four shots in the contest. Lovitz, the leading assist man for the Phoenix last season, registered the helper on the lone Elon goal on Saturday.
"We were much improved tonight and at times we created some good opportunities especially in the first half," commented Phoenix head coach Darren Powell. "South Carolina increased the pressure on us in the second half and played well. Now we have to regroup to play a ranked High Point team at home in Rhodes Stadium next weekend. We are all looking forward to the start of the 2011 season."
Both teams had their offensive chances in the opening half and the back and forth play continued until Elon managed to get on the scoreboard just before the half. Lovitz took the ball down the left sideline and hit a cross into the six-yard box to Smith. The transfer from Vermont hit a one-touch shot that hit the crossbar before bouncing in for the Elon score in the 42nd minute of action.
The score held through halftime and nearly 10 minutes into the second half before South Carolina's Stephen Morrissey netted the equalizer. Bradlee Baladez hit a corner kick towards the near post and Morrissey redirected the cross with a header past Elon keeper Nathan Dean to tie the score.
Due to the contest being an exhibition, the teams did not play any overtime minutes and the score ended in a 1-1 tie. Elon goalies Reed Dillard and Dean each played one half in the net with Dillard collecting one save and Dean racking up three stops.
Elon will open the regular season when it hosts local rival High Point on Saturday, August 27 at 8 p.m. in Rhodes Stadium.
College of Charleston 0, Mercer 0
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston men's soccer team battled Mercer to a scoreless draw in the teams' final exhibition match of the season at Patriots Point on Saturday night.
The Bears forced the Cougars on the defensive in the early minutes of the match and created early chances at net but never capitalized. As the match wore on, the Cougars gained composure and became the more offensive team but the match was still scoreless after 90 minutes.
"Well, it was a tough match and they were a very tough team," said head coach Ralph Lundy. "They started the game pressuring us and we played pretty poorly for about 20 minutes. We finally did get things under control pretty well but we didn't score.
"I really liked the second half. We shared the ball and created chances but again, we didn't score. In the second half we put the ball on the goal and the keeper made saves.
After allowing a 6-0 corner-kick and 4-1 shot advantage go the Bears' way in the opening half, The Cougars dominated the second period and forced five corner opportunities in the first 15 minutes of the period. After the fifth corner, Ralphie Lundy (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) found himself in an inviting spot near the top of the box where he rocketed a shot towards the upper-right corner of the goal but was denied by a fully extended Mercer keeper.
Lundy's shot on goal - one of three for the junior - was probably the most quality shot either team saw during the match.
The Cougars continued on the attack in the second half and eventually erased all the statistical deficits from the first period. By the time the dust settled, the Cougars led in shots (13-9), corner kicks (8-6) and shots on goal (6-3).
The match was the final exhibition for both teams and it showed in the intensity both squads brought to the pitch. The game was extremely physical in its entirety and saw 24 fouls blown and seven cards issued.
"We still have a lot of work to do between now and Friday," said Lundy. "The final third of the field is important. We kept the ball well through the middle third but we have to do better in the final third. We also need to play for each other a little more. In the first half we were a little too selfish. Guys were trying on their own when they should be looking for their teammates.
"I'm happy with the way our game matured. We kept the ball, we took care of the ball. We got into the attacking third but we didn't finish. That's the deal. We'll have to keep working."
The Cougars open the season with an enticing game against No. 20 South Carolina at Patriots Point on Friday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. The game will draw national attention as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Game of the Week to be featured on the FOX Soccer Channel.
Any children who bring used soccer equipment will be granted free admission to the game as the Cougars are teaming with Watermissions International to provide soccer equipment and fresh water to under privileged countries.