Winthrop 4, ETSU 2
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Despite goals by redshirt sophomore Joao Ramalho and sophomore William Nordenstrom, the ETSU men's soccer team suffered a 4-2 setback on the road to Winthrop Tuesday night.
The Eagles (6-2) entered the match sporting the nation's 12th-ranked scoring offense, averaging more than two goals per contest.
On the day, Winthrop outshot ETSU by a narrow, 12-11 margin; however, the Eagles converted four of their eight shots on goal.
The Buccaneers (4-3) kept pace with Winthrop early on, with the teams trading goals within the first six minutes of play.
Winthrop midfielder Magnus Thorsson gave the Eagles an early 1-0 lead with a fifth-minute goal; however, Ramalho answered for ETSU less than one minute later, scoring his sixth goal of the season.
Ramalho, who ranks 10th in the nation for goals per game, leads ETSU with 13 points on the year.
The Eagles' nationally ranked offense proved to be too much for the Bucs, as Winthrop added a pair of first-half goals to head into intermission with a 3-1 cushion.
Pol Sole and Thorsson scored for Winthrop in the 17th and 32nd minutes, respectively, with Sole's goal coming on a penalty kick.
After halftime, Max Hasenstab extended the Eagles' lead with a 54th-minute goal.
Nordenstrom cut the Bucs' deficit to 4-2 with an 83rd-minute penalty kick; however, ETSU would get no closer, suffering its first loss in three matches.
Prior to Tuesday's setback, the Bucs had not surrendered more than two goals in a contest.
ETSU will be back in action Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m., as the Bucs open Southern Conference play in Spartanburg, S.C., at Wofford.
South Carolina 2, UNCG 1
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Despite holding a 1-0 lead at halftime, the UNCG men’s soccer team allowed two second-half goals as the Spartans dropped a 2-1 decision at South Carolina on Tuesday night at Stone Stadium.
The Spartans struck first on their first dangerous chance of the game in the 22nd minute of action. UNCG got the ball to junior forward Dustin Gamradt on the counter attack. Gamradt was able to possess the ball, turn and send a through ball behind the Gamecocks’ defense. Senior forward Austin Miller ran onto the ball and touched it by the South Carolina goalkeeper, giving him a wide-open goal to deposit the ball into for the 1-0 UNCG lead. The goal was his first of the season and his 10th of his career.
South Carolina had a dangerous chance in the 24th minute but it came from distance. Coty Millard found some space from 30 yards out and ripped a bending shot toward goal, but it sailed wide of the goal.
The Spartans had their own chance from distance in the 38th minute of play off a free kick. Senior Aaron Reifschneider took a touch from freshman Tommi Gardarsson and ripped a shot from 25 yards out that was saved by South Carolina goalkeeper Marco Velez.
The Spartans had another strong chance in the 45th minute off a long throw-in. Reifschneider sent the ball into the box, where sophomore Corey Croegaert flicked the ball from the near post toward the penalty spot. Freshman Neico Regent sent a header toward goal, but Velez was in position to keep UNCG with just a one-goal lead.
South Carolina came out of the halftime and put early pressure on the Spartans. Millard had two chances in the first five minutes of the second half from inside the 18-yard box, but both times, the shots sailed over the crossbar. In the 55th minute, Jeffrey Torda took down a long ball and got past his defender. Torda sent a shot from 15 yards on goal but freshman goalkeeper William Pyle was there to thwart the effort keeping UNCG in the lead.
Pyle came up with a big save in the in the 56th minute as South Carolina had a great chance off a counterattack. Eli Dent got behind the Spartans’ defense and was alone on goal, but Pyle saved his shot from close range and his rebound attempt was well high. Pyle continued to stand tall during the Gamecocks’ push as he saved two shots from point-blank from Mikkel Knudsen to keep the Spartans in the lead.
South Carolina finally broke through in the 68th minute of action off a corner kick. The initial ball was whipped into the 18-yard box and cleared by the Spartans. The ball came out to the top of the 18-yard box, where Ive Burnett ripped a shot that deflected off a Spartans’ defender, changed directions and skipped past Pyle to tie the game at 1-1.
The Gamecocks kept attacking and took advantage of another fortuitous bounce to take a 2-1 lead in the 75th minute. Ryan Arambula made a run down the left-hand side. He sent a ball toward goal and the Spartans cleared the initial attempt, but the clearance came right back to Arambula, who poked it past Pyle for the South Carolina lead.
Pyle finished the night with a career-high seven saves, including some stellar stops in the second half in just his second career collegiate game. Velez posted four saves for the Gamecocks, who snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory.
The Spartans will be off this weekend before opening Southern Conference play next week. UNCG will travel to league-rival Furman on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. meeting against the Paladins.
Wake Forest 7, VMI 0
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Despite a combined 10 saves from a pair of keepers, the Virginia Military Institute men’s soccer team fell 7-0 on the road at Wake Forest University in Tuesday night nonconference action.
The loss, VMI’s first on the road this season, came behind three first-half goals and another four in the second half from the Demon Deacons (4-3-0). The Keydets struggled to get the offense going, taking just three shots, with two on goal.
Wake’s Michael Gamble scored four times and added another assist to his stat line. Sam Fink, Hayden Partain and Tane Gant all accounted for goals, which were scored by the Wake starters. Jared Odenbeck finished with two assists, as did Hank Gauger off the bench. Partain, Gent and Ian Harkes all accounted for one assist.
Travis Borkey was the only Keydet to register multiple shots, taking two and putting one effort on goal. Senior forward Brandon Hartman also took one shot.
Zach Kaplan got the start in goal for VMI (1-5-1), making three saves in the first half. Alex Guerra came in for the second half, making seven saves in the final 45 minutes of play. Alec Ferrell played all 90 minutes in goal for Wake, making two saves.
Wake, which received votes in last week’s NSCAA/Continental Tire Top 25 Poll, took 37 shots, paced by 11 from Gamble. Gent tallied another seven attempts, while Partain added five.
The Demon Deacons earned 15 corner kicks, including eight in the second half, while VMI was held without a corner. The Keydets committed 13 fouls, while the Demon Deacons were whistled four times.
The Keydets begin Southern Conference action on Saturday as they welcome Mercer University to Patchin Field. Game time is slated for 11:30 a.m. in advance of a busy weekend on Post with football following the men’s soccer game.
Furman at College of Charleston canceled
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Tuesday night’s men’s soccer match between 22nd-ranked Furman and College of Charleston has been cancelled due to heavy rains and unplayable field conditions at CofC’s Patriots Point. The game will not be made up.
Furman (4-1-1), riding a five-match unbeaten streak, returns home to host CAA member James Madison on Friday at Stone Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.