Georgia Southern 4, Jacksonville 1
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern posted its biggest win of the season, in terms of scoring, with a 4-1 win over Jacksonville in the 2013 home finale. The Eagles scored three times in the first half and cruised for the win. Three Eagles posted their first goals of the season on the rainy evening in Statesboro.
The Eagles wore black armbands in honor of former Eagle Martin Parris, who passed away over the weekend. There was also a pregame moment of silence in his honor.
Jeremy Rector got the Eagles off the mark in the 14th minute with a nice goal in the penalty area. Ethan LaPan got in past the JU defense, baiting the keeper. He bluffed and dished the pass to Rector, who scored into the open net.
With just under 10 minutes left before halftime, Aidan Reising put the Eagles up 2-0 on a nifty one-timer in the box. Captain Hunter Norton played a through ball from the center of the box toward the left post, where Reising struck the ball at full stretch for his first career goal.
In the 42nd minute, David Vargas Masis put the Eagles up 3-0 with his first goal of the season. The sophomore forward was sprung by a through ball by Eric Dinka. Vargas Masis took the ball to 20 yards and displayed composure on the ball to chip the Jacksonville goalkeeper from 20 yards, finding the goal.
Vargas Masis’ parents were on hand for the match, traveling from Costa Rica to view their first Georgia Southern match. It was the second straight match that an Eagle from Central America scored with his parents in attendance for the first time.
Two minutes after the intermission, Jacksonville got on the scoreboard with a goal from Valentine Murombo. The JU striker got on the end of a cross in the center of the box at 6 yards to cut the GSU advantage to 3-1.
The lead grew to 4-1 when Rocco Bagley got his first goal of the season in the 67th minute. Witt Carlisle took a shot that struck off the crossbar and came to Bagley, who scored the goal at short range.
The Eagles improved to 5-8-0 on the season, while Jacksonville fell to 4-8-1. It was Georgia Southern’s first win over JU since 2001 and avenged a 5-0 loss to the Dolphins last year in the Bold City.
GSU posted its highest goal total of the season and has now scored four or more goals in a match in each of the last four seasons.
The Eagles are on the road for their final three games of the 2013 regular season, beginning with a trip to UNCG on Saturday night. The match starts at 7:30 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
No. 14 Wake Forest 4, Davidson 0
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Davidson suffered a 4-0 setback to nationally ranked Wake Forest in nonconference men's soccer action Tuesday evening at Spry Stadium.
The Demon Deacons, who defeated No. 4 Maryland in their last outing, improved to 8-3-4, while the Wildcats fell to 6-8-1.
Sean Okoli netted Wake's first goal in the ninth minute off an assist from Ross Tomaselli.
In the second half, Andy Lubahn extended the Demon Deacons' lead to 3-0 with strikes in the 47th and 78th minutes, while Shane Powell added an insurance goal with 6:39 left.
Playing against his former team, Matt Pacifici turned away a game-high nine shots for the Wildcats.
After playing its last two against nonconference foes, Davidson will resume Southern Conference play this weekend when Elon comes to Alumni Stadium on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest.
Duke 3, Elon 0
DURHAM, N.C. – The Elon University men’s soccer team saw its unbeaten streak against Duke and Atlantic Coast Conference opponents come to an end in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Blue Devils on Tuesday at Koskinen Stadium.
Elon (10-4-1) had its three-match unbeaten streak against the Blue Devils (6-4-5) and six-match streak overall versus ACC competition fall while suffering its worst loss of the season. It was also the Phoenix’s third straight defeat on the road.
The Blue Devils broke a scoreless tie at the half on a goal by Sean Davis less than 30 seconds after the beginning of the second stanza. Davis took a pass from Nick Palodichuk and hit a strike from 20 yards that found the upper right corner of the net and gave Duke a 1-0 advantage.
Duke added to its lead less than a minute later on a corner kick, as Brody Huitema headed a shot past the Elon defense. The set piece led to a 2-0 lead for the Blue Devils in the 48th minute.
Facing its largest deficit in a match this season, the Phoenix looked to create numerous scoring opportunities. Elon, however, had a hard time breaking past the Blue Devil defense and saw its best scoring chance, a Jason Waterman attempt in the 59th minute, go high.
The Blue Devils continue to throw numbers up forward and looked to add to their lead. The Phoenix survived a few frantic chances in the 65th minute from the Blue Devils. A header shot by Sebastien Ibeagha was blocked by the defense and Elon keeper Nathan Dean managed to corral Zach Mathers’ shot seconds later.
Duke capitalized on an Elon handball foul in box within the 80th minute. Davis converted on the penalty kick and left Elon with a 3-0 deficit with 10 minutes left to play.
That would end up being the final score as the Phoenix gave up a new season high in goals and dropped its second straight contest. Elon managed only three shots the entire match, with Waterman, Cauê Da Silva and Nathan Diehl providing one apiece. Duke attempted nine shots, including four on goal, and had a 4-0 advantage in corners.
Elon will look to get back on track this weekend as the Phoenix returns to Southern Conference play and visits Davidson on Saturday. That match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.