Box Score For immediate release – 9/4/2015 - #008
WildCats take Down Averett 3-2
LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's soccer team got its first win of the year, defeating Averett University 3-2 on Friday night.
The first half proved to be an eventful half, with several chances by both teams. AU scored the first goal of the game right before the 15 minute mark, as Justin Lloyd sent home the deflected rebound off of a David Cuperman shot. However, the 'Cats stormed right back.
The WildCats earned a corner kick at 24:26 and captain, Blake Heatherly, stepped up to take it. Kicking right-footed from the left side, Heatherly curled the shot into the back of the net for the first of his season.
Randolph took the lead for good shortly after, as Ryan Kyler fired in a rocket from just over midfield. The ball stayed in the air and floated over the fingers of the Cougar goalkeeper to give the 'Cats a 2-1 lead.
The advantage stayed at one going into the half thanks to two key timed defensive plays. The ball became loose in the WildCat box, and Julian Williams-Milne blocked the first shot by Jordan Palma. The ball came back to Palma and he sent a shot lower to the back post, but Nick Rodriguez was there to clear it off the line, preserving 2-1 score line intact.
After the intermission, shots were harder to come by. However, in the 68th minute, Randolph earned another corner kick, one of 10 in the game. Freddy Isleno stepped up to take this and sent the kick into the box, where Cristian Irigoyen got his head on it. The header was blocked right to El Hadji Beye and he put it into the back of the net for the 3-1 lead.
It would be needed as Tobias Andreasson scored from the top of the box with just under six minutes remaining in the game. AU tried for a last grasp goal, but the stout WildCat defense stopped them.
John Matrisciano made five saves in the loss for the Cougars (0-2 overall). Randolph counterpart CJ Stevens made three saves in the victory. The game saw a total of 30 shots, with 21 of them coming in the first half. Averett outshot Randolph 16-14 for the game.
The WildCats (1-1) will finish off the three-game homestand on Saturday night. The 'Cats take on Southern Virginia University (0-2) in the second game of the classic. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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