Elon 3, No. 18 West Virginia 2

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Elon’s Chris Thomas became the program’s single-season and all-time goal scorer, but it was his assist on Matt Wescoe’s game-winning score in the 90th minute that made the difference as the Phoenix men’s soccer team defeated No. 18 West Virginia, 3-2, Tuesday night at Dick Dlesk Stadium.

Elon (7-2-1) won its second straight match and is unbeaten in eight of its last nine games.

The Phoenix managed to rally back from a 2-1 deficit with two goals in the final four minutes of action, mostly involving the duo of Thomas and Wescoe.

Thomas scored his 44th career goal in the match, moving him past Mike Wessels’ all-time mark with a goal in the 60th minute on Gabe Latigue helper to tie the game at 1-1. The score was also Thomas’s 14th of the season, giving him the Elon record for goals in a single season.

Thomas was not done, as the senior forward added his second score of the contest on a header in the 87th minute, providing the equalizer as the Phoenix tied the game again at 2-2. Thomas received the ball on a cross from Wescoe and then proceeded to beat the keeper to the ball for his sixth multi-goal game this season.

Just three minutes later, the roles of were reversed as Thomas found Wescoe sprinting down the middle of the box and the junior midfielder was able to place to ball just over the goalie for the game-winner. The goal was Wescoe’s first of the season and the assist was Thomas’ third on the year.

West Virginia (6-3-2) struck first on a header from Eric Schoenle in the 56th minute to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 advantage. WVU added its second score of the contest in the 73rd minute on a bending shot from 18 yards by Jamie Merriam that gave the Mountaineers a 2-1 lead.

Nathan Dean had a career-high eight saves for the Maroon and Gold as he played all 90 minutes between the posts.

The Mountaineers entered the contest ranked 18^th nationally in the Soccer America Men’s Top 25.

The win improves the Phoenix’s nonconference record to 6-2-1 on the year. Elon also snapped the Mountaineers’ six-match unbeaten streak.

Elon returns to the pitch at home on Saturday for a Southern Conference match versus Furman at Rudd Field. The program will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.

 

Furman 1, College of Charleston 0

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Senior Coleton Henning scored in the 17th minute to lead 22nd-ranked Furman to a 1-0 victory over College of Charleston in the Southern Conference men’s soccer opener for both schools on Tuesday evening at Stone Stadium.

The victory moved Furman to 8-1-2 overall and 1-0 in league play while extending the Paladins’ unbeaten run to eight matches. Charleston slipped to 4-7-0 overall and 0-1 in the SoCon.

Henning, a Shawnee, Kan., native and the reigning SoCon Player of the Year, received a pass near the top of the box and dribbled around two defenders before placing a 22-yard shot into the upper left-hand corner at the 16:57 mark for his fifth goal of the 2012 season.

Furman controlled the run of play from the opening whistle and outshot the Cougars 19-4, but managed just a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. The Cougars’ best chance at an equalizer came in the final two minutes, when a cross found its way through the box to the far post on a deflection, but Charleston was not able to turn a right post shot on frame.

Senior Doug Ryan notched two saves for the Paladins to record his fourth shutout of the season. Kees Heemskerk stopped five shots to keep the Cougars within striking distance.

Furman continues SoCon play on Saturday with a trip to Elon. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. against the Phoenix. College of Charleston hosts Appalachian State on Saturday at 7 p.m.

 

No. 6 North Carolina 2, Georgia Southern 0

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Georgia Southern’s men’s soccer team closed the nonconference season on Tuesday evening with a 2-0 loss at No. 6 North Carolina. The defending national champions scored in the 38th and 40th minutes to take the win over the Eagles.

Georgia Southern kept the Tar Heels from scoring through the first half hour, but a loose rebound in the box led to the game’s first goal. UNC’s Andy Craven scored on a rebound inside the six-yard box, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead with 38 minutes gone.

Two minutes later, the hosts scored again as Cooper Vandermass-Peeler chipped the ball past a charging Neal Bates to make the score 2-0 just before the halftime break.

That would be all the scoring as the Tar Heels took the 2-0 victory. UNC outshot the Eagles 16-2 with a 9-0 margin in shots on goals. The Eagles earned three second-half corner kicks, while the Tar Heels tallied four.

GSU opens conference play with a 2-8-0 record on Saturday evening with a trip to Davidson. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. The Eagles return to the Tar Heel State on Tuesday evening with a match at Appalachian State.

 

No. 15 Wake Forest 2, Davidson 0

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Luca Gimenez’ fourth goal in the last two games proved to be the difference as No. 15 Wake Forest held off Davidson, 2-0, in nonconference men’s soccer action Tuesday evening in front of 1,814 fans at Alumni Stadium.

Unbeaten in their last six games, the Demon Deacons improved to 7-1-3, while the Wildcats dropped to 4-5-1.

Gimenez, who recorded a hat trick in his last outing against Virginia Tech, provided the eventual game-winner in the 68th minute off a through ball from Michael Gamble.

Davidson had a great opportunity to put the first goal on the board in 22nd minute when Brian McGue made a far-post run before his header missed just wide of frame.

Not long after McGue’s attempt, the Wildcats had two more scoring chances, including a blast from Peter Paras that hit the crossbar.

McGue threatened again early in the second half, but Michael Lisch denied his one-on-one try as well as a well-struck shot from just inside the 18-yard box.

Just as impressive in the first 65 minutes was Davidson goalkeeper Matt Pacifici, who made a number of diving saves against his former teammates.

Jared Watts scored the Demon Deacons’ final goal of the night off a Sam Fink centering pass to the near post in the 78^th minute.

In addition to five corner kicks for each team, Wake Forest held an 18-14 advantage in shots.

Pacifici led both keepers with seven saves.

Davidson will conclude its home schedule Saturday evening with a 7 p.m. contest against Georgia Southern. Prior to the contest, the Wildcats will honor their three seniors, and at halftime, the 1992 College Cup Team will be recognized.

 

Clemson 2, UNCG 0

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men’s soccer team allowed its first goal in more than 280 minutes of action Tuesday night as the Spartans dropped a 2-0 decision to Atlantic Coast Conference foe Clemson at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.

The Spartans’ shutout streak lasted 280:19 dating back to the Sept. 22 game at No. 17 Coastal Carolina.

Clemson finally broke through in the 75th minute of play as Manolo Sanchez took the ball at the top of the 18-yard box. He made a couple of moves to create space around two UNCG defenders before firing a shot into the side netting for the 1-0 lead.

The Tigers tacked on an insurance goal in the 82nd minute off play. Amadou Dia sent a ball through the six-yard box, where it found Austin Savage, who tapped it into the corner of the net for his third goal of the season.

Clemson had a prime scoring chance in the 12th minute of action as Savage ripped a shot from just outside the 18-yard box. Senior goalkeeper Peyton Ford made a diving, full-extension save to push the ball off the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.

The Spartans had their best chance of the first half in the 32nd minute of action as they tried to take advantage of a Clemson miscue. Clemson goalkeeper Chris Glodack came out of the net and tried to clear the ball but freshman Jannick Martens picked off the pass 40 yards out. Martens fired a shot toward the vacant net as Glodack was retreating, but his shot sailed just wide.

Clemson had another scoring chance in the 39th minute of play. Preston Gayton was able to beat two UNCG defenders and find some space in the 18-yard box. Gayton ripped a shot toward the goal, but once again, Ford was there with a diving stab to thwart the effort.

The Tigers were held at bay once against in the 56th minute as Sanchez found space in the box and drilled a shot that Ford was able to save, keeping the Spartans in the contest.

UNCG had a prime opportunity to take the lead in the 67th minute of action off a corner kick. The Spartans had three shots during a flurry in the six-yard box. Oddur Gudmundsson had one shot and Jonathan Leonard had two shots from close range, but Glodack came up with big saves to keep UNCG off the board.

Ford posted six saves in the loss, including a pair of highlight-reel saves, while Glodack tallied three saves in the victory.

UNCG returns to Southern Conference play Saturday night as it hosts Wofford. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.

 

Gardner-Webb 3, Appalachian State 2 (2OT)

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb forward Satoshi Tatsumi headed home the game-winner with four minutes left in double overtime as the Runnin’ Bulldogs rallied past Appalachian State in men’s soccer action, 3-2, at Greene-Harbison Field on Tuesday.

With the nonconference loss, the Mountaineers dropped to 4-5-1 overall, while the Runnin’ Bulldogs improved to 1-8-1.

After a scoreless first overtime period, the teams looked to be settling for a draw until Gardner-Webb was awarded a corner in the 106th minute. Marius Hammersmark fed the ball into the box and Tatsumi headed a shot past Appalachian State keeper Paul West for the game-winning goal.

Gardner-Webb got on the scoreboard first in the 30th minute when a Tyler Jordan shot deflected off of Lee Williams and scooted past West. For Jordan, it was his second goal of the season.

As the Mountaineers entered the second half facing a 1-0 score, the Black and Gold struck quickly in the 53rd minute when senior midfielder Ryan Lavigne scored on a loose ball inside the box. The assist was awarded to sophomore Sekani Sinclair. The tying goal was the first of the season for Lavigne.

The Apps continued their pressure in the 56th minute when sophomore forward Stanley Broaden broke away from the Bulldog backline and scored past GWU goalkeeper Scott Krotee. Broaden’s goal was his second of the season, placing him in a tie with senior midfielder David Dodge for the team lead in goals.

Quickly after Appalachian took the lead, Gardner-Webb found some offense and was awarded a penalty kick in the 62nd minute. Hammersmark put his shot in the back of the net to even the score at 2-2. The goal was Hammersmark’s first of the season.

After the teams could not find the scoreboard for the remaining minutes, an overtime period was to decide the match. The Apps saw some opportunities early in the first overtime period when senior forward Boubacar Toure fired two quick shots on Krotee, but both were saved, keeping GWU alive and forcing a second overtime period.

For the match, Appalachian fired 11 shots on goal, compared to Gardner-Webb’s six. Toure paced the Apps with five shots on goal but was able to find the net. In West’s second start of the season, the sophomore tallied three saves.

The Mountaineers return to Southern Conference play on Saturday when they travel outside of the state of North Carolina for the first time this season, meeting College of Charleston. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.