Wofford 2, Gardner-Webb 1
ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Wofford men's soccer team scored once again in the opening minutes of play as the Terriers defeated Gardner-Webb by a 2-1 score Thursday afternoon in the Big South/SoCon Challenge at Winthrop University.
The Terriers (2-0) jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the fourth minute of play when Ethan Miller sent a shot from the outside left corner of the 18-yard box into the top right corner of the goal, just over the reach of Gardner-Webb (1-1) keeper Andrew Robinson.
Play between the two squads was physical throughout the first half, as 17 fouls and two cards issued, including a red card to the Runnin' Bulldogs in the 32nd minute of play, which gave Wofford a man advantage throughout the remainder of the match.
Blair Gaines raised the score to 2-0 in the 77th minute, finding the back of the net from eight yards out following a drop pass from Turner Almond to score the game-winner.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were able to get on the scoreboard in the 85th minute of play as Chris Davis was able to put the ball past Terrier keeper Zach Woolever.
Woolever was credited with the win for Wofford, earning one save while facing 10 shots. Robinson was awarded the loss for Gardner-Webb, having two saves while facing a total of 12 shots.
The win over the Runnin' Bulldogs was the fourth consecutive victory in the series for the Terriers, as Wofford has taken 11 of the 15 matches. It is also the first time that Wofford has started the season with a 2-0 record since the 1994 season.
Wofford will return to action Saturday evening as they take on Winthrop in the finale of the Big South/SoCon Challenge. The match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. at Eagle Field in Rock Hill, S.C.
Appalachian State 3, Catawba 0
BOONE, N.C. - Freshman Sekani Sinclair (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas) scored the first two goals of his collegiate career to lift Appalachian State men's soccer to a 3-0 win over visiting Catawba College at ASU Soccer Stadium on Thursday. The Mountaineers' record levels out to 1-1-0, while the Indians open the season at 0-1-0.
Appalachian came out firing, recording its first shot less than a minute into the game. In the 16th minute, Sinclair scored his first career goal on a perfectly-placed shot from the top corner of the penalty area. Fellow-freshman Nicholas Skoda (Knoxville, Tenn./Hardin Valley) earned his first career point on the assist.
Early the second half, Catawba refused to give up, and the Indians came up with two quick shots to open the period. Catawba earned five corner kicks during the game, including four in the latter half.
In the 80th minute, ASU senior Mark Bridges (Morganton, N.C./East Burke) fed a lofty pass down the sideline from midfield. Sinclair was in position to retrieve it and converted the breakaway opportunity into his second goal of the day.
Less than three minutes later, senior Sean Dreybus (Newport News, Va./Warwick) scored his first of the season from six yards out from the goal. Skoda crossed the pass from near the goal line to earn his second assist of the day.
The Mountaineers finished the match with an 18-6 advantage in shots.
Coach Shaun Pendleton was proud of his players' performance. "I'm satisfied with 3-0, but getting the shutout is just as important."
Freshman Paul West (Apex, N.C./Apex) made his debut in goal for the Mountaineers; he successfully defended all three of the Indians' shots on goal to earn the shutout.
"Sekani had a great day," continued Pendleton. "Our younger players benefited from the playing time, as did our more-experienced seniors. Our fitness got us through, but we still need to clean up the final third. The win gets the spirits up, and now it's on to five games on the road."
With the 3-0 victory in hand, Appalachian now prepares for a lengthy road trip beginning Sunday. The Mountaineers next travel to play at Mercer on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. After that, ASU will play in tournaments at Davidson and Coastal Carolina before returning for the next home game on Sept. 27 against UNC Asheville.
Winthrop 5, Georgia Southern 4 (2 OT)
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Georgia Southern Men's Soccer erased an early 2-0 deficit against Winthrop and forced overtime with three game-tying goals, but fell 5-4 in overtime on Thursday night (Sept. 1st) in the SoCon/Big South Shootout. Luigi Clendening scored his third goal of the season early and David Vargas Masís added two more as Georgia Southern circled the wagons to score three second half goals. The defeat, however, drops Georgia Southern to 1-1 on the year while Winthrop improves to 2-0.
Winthrop sprinted out to a 2-0 lead off pair of goals off the foot of Akeem Matthews in the 16th and 18th minutes.
Senior Luigi Clendening, (Augusta, Ga.) however, cut the Winthrop lead in half by finishing off a Georgia Southern counterattack in the 29th minute. Clendening along with Hunter Norton (Evans, Ga.) and Ethan LaPan (Martinez, Ga.) matriculated the ball down the pitch with Norton's pass finding Clendening at 15 yards from goal. As the defense closed on Clendening, he chipped the Winthrop goalkeeper, lobbing the ball into the upper 90 of the goal.
Clendening nearly brought the Eagles level in the final 10 seconds of the first half as he stole the ball around 35 yards from goal. The hit man dribbled in as the seconds ticked down and ripped a shot with five seconds left in the half that beat the Winthrop goalkeeper but sailed inches wide of the post as the half came to an end.
Freshman David Vargas Masís (Cartago, Costa Rica) opened his scoring account just four minutes into the second half with the Eagles' first equalizer of the night. The quick footed forward won a turnover in the attacking third and ripped a left-footed shot across the face of goal and into the net to tie the match at 2-2.
Winthrop answered in the 53rd minute on Matthews' third goal of the night. The freshman made a strong run through the Eagle defense to single-handedly give Winthrop a 3-2 lead.
Georgia Southern drew level again in the 78th minute off a second goal by Vargas Masís. A Winthrop turnover was won by Clendening who passed the ball to Vargas Masís, who scored one-on-one with the Winthrop goalkeeper.
Winthrop responded just 25 seconds later with a one-touch shot off the boot of Marc Segarra. The Eagles' Tomas Brennan crossed the ball to the center of the six yard box where Segarra scored to give the hosts a 4-3 lead.
Georgia Southern was lifted in the 70th minute when Winthrop's Andres Pullin saw a red card which forced the hosts to finish the night with 10 players.
Norton scored Georgia Southern's third equalizer of the night in the 82nd minute. A quick free kick by Georgia Southern caught Winthrop on the back foot and allowed Norton to score and level the match at 4-4 to force overtime.
Two minutes into the second overtime period, Winthrop snatched victory with knuckleball shot from 35-yards off the foot of Adam Brundle. The goal gave Winthrop the 5-4 win.
The Eagles face Gardner-Webb in the conclusion of the SoCon/Big South Shootout on Saturday, September 3rd, at 4:30 p.m.