Box Score For Immediate Release – 9/28/16 - #061
'Cats Unbeaten Run Ends at #16 CNU
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The Randolph College men's soccer team took on #16-nationally ranked Christopher Newport University in a non-conference game on Wednesday. The WildCats saw its seven-game unbeaten run come to an end in a lightning shortened game, that ended 4-1.
The two teams showed right away that there would be attacking on both sides. Two early offside calls on both teams negated chances. However, the Captains continued to push, sending several shots near the goal. Erick Cortez-Martinez was there to save one of them. However, in the 10th minute, CNU got on the board as Stephen Durbin scored.
Randolph had the next opportunity as Blake Heatherly sent a shot high, but the hosts regained the momentum. Cortez-Martinez made a nice save, before Durbin tallied his second of the night. The 'Cats had several other opportunities, which included Cristian Irigoyen forcing the home goalkeeper into a save, but the score would remain 2-0 heading into the intermission.
Both teams came out aggressively, with each side having shots blocked. Cortez-Martinez was there as well for several diving stops that kept the hosts out. Then in the 64th minute, Adam Watson halved the lead. Heatherly sent a through ball to Watson. Watson then beat a defender, getting into the box, where he fired a low shot by the keeper. The deficit would go back to two shortly after, as Andrew Gogolin tallied at the 66:25 mark.
Heatherly tried to answer with a blast from 25 yards out. But, the goalie stopped it to preserve the score. A few minutes later, CNU tallied its final goal of the night. Jimmy Grace sent a tough shot from outside the box to make it 4-1. However, the WildCats continued to push. Just over a minute later, Troy Jurney had an attempt inside the box, but only the play of the goalie kept it out. Then with just under nine minutes remaining, lightning entered the area and did not leave, as the game was called due to NCAA regulations.
Cortez-Martinez made five fantastic saves in the match, while his counterpart Zach Pedini made four key ones. Daniel Zeitoun and Jordan Boone had the assists for the Captains (8-2 overall).
Randolph (5-2-2, 0-0-1 ODAC) returns to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play for its next game. The 'Cats travel to Eastern Mennonite University (5-4-2, 0-1) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
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