Box Score LYNCHBURG, VA – North Carolina Wesleyan's Isai Gonzalez netted his second goal of the season with only 2:29 left in the contest to lift the Battling Bishops to a 2-1 victory over the Randolph College men's soccer team in non-conference play from WildCat Stadium Wednesday.
Gonzalez had been called for being offsides multiple times during the game, and appeared to be close to offside on the deciding goal but the through ball from Alambi Clarke connected with Gonzalez, who slotted it to the right of keeper Carter Smith (Greensboro, NC/Grimsley) for the NCWC (3-0-1) game-winner.
The contest started out great for the host WildCats (2-2-1), as junior Corey Sindle (Gloucester, VA/Gloucester) netted his team-leading third goal just 33 seconds into the contest. Sindle had gotten fouled, but the middle ref allowed play to go on and Sindle blasted a shot from 40 yards away that skipped and beat the Bishop keeper.
Just under 14 minutes later, NC Wesleyan equalized with an assisted goal from Christian Boakye. After a scramble in front, Boakye wound up with the ball at his feet and an open goal, which he found easily to make the score 1-1. Minutes later, the WildCats got another great chance, as a shot from John Vecchietti (Annandale, VA/W.T. Woodson) shook the crossbar, and the rebound bounced to Sindle who shot just high.
In the 24th minute, Sindle had another chance after he juked the goalie, but a defender sacrificed his body to keep the attempt out of the net and stymie the WildCats once again. After the intermission, Randolph continued to get good opportunities, as Nick Cornell (Front Royal, VA/Warren Co.) missed just wide, and a Will Wolf (Goldsboro, NC/Cardinal Gibbons) header off a corner skimmed off the right post.
NC Wesleyan had a good shot to take the lead in the 58th minute, as Andri Bjarnason had some space but his attempt sailed past the left post. Randolph continued to pressure, and in the 81st minute had another great chance as a knuckling shot from Vecchietti was barely saved by Nathan Mangione. Randolph's Jacob Lusczek (Fredericksburg, VA/Chancellor) had a good chance just before NC Wesleyan came down and took the lead.
The WildCats held a 16-10 shot lead, while also controlling the corner kick battle 7-4. Mangione made four saves in net for the Battling Bishops, who handed the WildCats only their fifth home loss in the last 22 games in WildCat Stadium.
Randolph will try to come back stronger on Saturday as Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play begins with a road competition at regionally-ranked Bridgewater College at 1 p.m. in Bridgewater, VA.
--RANDOLPH--
