Wofford 3, Liberty 0

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Wofford’s men’s soccer team scored score twice in the first six minutes en route to 3-0 victory over Liberty on Saturday afternoon.

The Terriers improved to 6-4-0 this season, while the Flames dropped to 2-6-0.

In the first half, Wofford would jump on top early and never look back. Connor Davis found the left corner of the net with a header off a long throw-in by Billy Padula in the fourth minute. The Terriers would not waste any time scoring again, as Davis would double Wofford’s lead with another header in the sixth minute. He would again beat Flames goalkeeper Scott Sutarik off another long throw-in by Padula.

The goals were Davis’ first and second of the season and his career. The assists were Padula’s fourth and fifth of the year, all on long thrown-ins. He leads the team in that category.

At the break, Liberty held the edge in shots (11-4) and corners taken (4-0) but Wofford led 2-0.

The second half was much more balanced than the first, with Liberty taking one more shot (5-4) and Wofford one more corner (2-1). The first major event of the second half occurred in the 63rd minute when a Terrier was fouled in the box to earn a penalty.

Wofford’s leading goal scorer, Alex Hutchins, confidently stepped to the penalty spot and slotted the ball past Liberty keeper Sutarik. The goal gave the Terriers a 3-0 lead and was Hutchins’ eighth of the year.

The Flames would continue to pressure Wofford goalie Andrew Drennan and the Terrier defense as they fought to find the back of the net. Four of their five shots were taken after Hutchins’ penalty kick, including one that hit the crossbar. However, Drennan and the Wofford defense were too strong as they held on for the shutout victory.

Drennan earned the victory for Wofford and improved to 6-4 with three shutouts. He recorded six saves on 16 shots faced. Sutarik took the loss for Liberty and fell to 1-4. He allowed three goals and made four saves on nine shots.

Next time out, the Terriers will travel to face UNCG in their Southern Conference opener on Saturday. The game is set to kick off at 6 p.m.

 

UNCG 1, Appalachian State 0

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men’s soccer team downed Appalachian State 1-0 Saturday night at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. Senior forward Hakan Ilhan scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season to lead the Spartans to the victory.

The Spartans (4-4-2, 2-0-0 SoCon) were rewarded for their strong play in the 39th minute of action as they took a 1-0 lead on the Mountaineers (4-4-1, 0-1-0 SoCon). Sophomore Austin Miller took the ball 20 yards out and possessed it before sending Maximilian Schulz down the sideline. Schulz sent his first touch into the box where it found Ilhan making a run down the middle of the box, where he drilled it into the back of the net for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

The Spartans controlled play for most of the first half, holding a 7-3 advantage in shots. UNCG had a strong chance in the 29th minute of action as Lukas Zarges and Ilhan combined at the top of the 18-yard box to create some space. Junior Oddur Gudmundsson was the recipient of the space and fired a shot from 16 yards out that sailed just over the crossbar keeping the game scoreless.

Appalachian State had its best chance of the first half in the 36th minute of action as it took advantage of a UNCG turnover. Stanley Broaden received the miscue and drove toward goal before firing a shot from 18-yards out. Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Peyton Ford stepped out and made a diving save to push the ball out of harm’s way.

The Spartans came within inches of extending their lead in the 49th minute of as Miller drew a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. After a quick touch by Ilhan, Schulz ripped a bending shot past ASU goalkeeper Danny Free, but the ball struck the crossbar solidly before ricocheting out of play.

Appalachian State pushed up down the stretch trying to tie the game and had its best chance in the 85th minute of play. Harrison Delbridge had a chance on a header from six yards out, but his shot was thwarted by junior defender Mahdi Ali, who cleared it off the line to preserve the victory.

UNCG ended the night with an 18-8 edge in shots as six different players posted multiple shots. Ilhan led the way with three shots while Brian Graham tallied three shots for the Spartans. Ford recorded three saves in his second straight shutout, while Free recorded four saves in the loss.

The Spartans continue their three-game homestand Tuesday night as they step out of SoCon play to host Atlantic Coast Conference foe Clemson. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers return to their nonconference schedule on Tuesday when they travel to Gardner-Webb. Kickoff from Boiling Springs, N.C., is set for 7 p.m.

 

No. 1 Maryland 3, College of Charleston 2

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – No. 1 Maryland required a late goal to escape with a 3-2 win over the College of Charleston men’s soccer team in front of 2,230 fans at Patriots Point on Saturday night. The Cougars held the lead on two separate occasions, but Maryland’s two second-half goals were the difference in the match.

The Cougars, having now played six teams either ranked or receiving votes in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Top 25 Poll, fall to 4-6-0 on the year.

Sean de Silva and Francis Twohig both netted their second goals of the season for the Cougars, but Maryland converted headers in the box three times to eke out the win.

The decisive goal came in the 84th minute on a set-piece header. Taylor Kemp stood over the ball and sent it across the goal mouth and Landon Woodberry slid the ball into a sliver of space between the post and CofC keeper Kees Heemskerk.

The Cougars came out strong in the early going and produced the first quality chances of the match to force the Terrapins on their heels during the early stages.

CofC broke first in the 19th minute when Sam Redmond played a through ball to Luke Huggett at the top-right corner of the box. With his first touch, Huggett centered the ball for de Silva, who drove the ball off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net.

In the 33rd minute, Maryland’s Tsubasa Endoh sent in a corner kick, and Woodberry got his head to it and sent the ball into the far side of the goal to equalize the match.

CofC’s raucous fans were not deterred and stayed behind the Cougars, and Twohig rewarded them in the dying minutes of the first period. He collected a misplayed clearance in the box, and as Maryland goalkeeper Keith Cardona charged him, he casually chipped the ball over his head and into the back of the net to put CofC up, 2-1, in the 43rd minute.

The Cougars carried the lead into the locker room after outshooting the Terps, 6-3, in the opening period.

The second half became increasingly more physical and called for eight more fouls than the opening period did.

Maryland netted its second equalizer in the 66th minute when Taylor Kemp sent a ball into the box from the left side and David Kabelik redirected it into the net with his header.

Heemskerk made two saves on the evening, both on well-driven balls through a crowded box.

The Cougars face another tough opponent with heightened importance as they now set their sights on the Southern Conference season and their opener with No. 25 Furman. The Cougars and Paladins kick off from Greenville, S.C., at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.