Men’s Soccer Notebook (Oct. 5)
CONFERENCE PLAY OPENS THIS WEEKEND
The opening weekend of Sun Belt Conference men’s soccer is this weekend with three intriguing league matches on the Saturday schedule. Back-to-back regular season and tournament champions Hartwick host preseason favorite Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday. Georgia State hosts its in-state rival Georgia Southern at 6 p.m. CT and Appalachian State hosts Howard.
CHANTS RALLY IN FINAL MINUTES
Coastal Carolina found itself in a 2-0 hole with little more than 12 minutes remaining in regulation, but stormed back with a trio of goals to down visiting Old Dominion, 3-2, last Saturday afternoon. The Chanticleers' comeback was led by junior forward Frantzdy Pierrot who netted the tying marker in the 83rd minute and completed the rally with the game winner in the 86th minute. Martin Melchor started the comeback with a free kick from 25 yards out that found the top right corner of the net in the game's 78th minute.
MOUNTAINEERS REMAIN UNDEFEATED AT HOME
Freshman goalkeeper Jake Agnew made three saves to get his first career shutout and remain unbeaten in his four matches between the frames for Appalachian State as it drew Presbyterian College 0-0 in double overtime on Tuesday night at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex. The Mountaineers (3-5-2) have been strong in recent outings, only having lost one match in their last six.
HARTWICK OFF TO FAST START
Hartwick (6-1-2) got all the scoring in the first half in a 3-0 shutout of Bryant last Saturday evening at Elmore Field. Marcus Nordgard, Mike Rood, and Marc Berry scored goals within a 21:18 span as the Hawks cruised to their fourth straight victory. Hartwick, which is ranked eighth in the latest NSCAA Southeast Region poll, has not lost since its second game of the season. The team is 5-0-2 since. It marks the program’s strongest start through its first nine games since the 2003 team started 8-1.
CCU STOPS PK, DRAWS #5 CLEMSON
The Coastal Carolina men's soccer team extended its current season-long unbeaten streak to four matches as the Chanticleers battled in-state rival and fifth-ranked Clemson to a double overtime scoreless draw Tuesday night. Coastal finished with a slim 10-9 advantage in overall shots, and each side managed to put five attempts on frame. Braulio Linares-Ortiz denied Clemson the best scoring opportunity of the match, stopping a Tiger penalty kick in the 26th minute, and finished the game with five total saves.
APP STATE’S OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
Since getting its first win on Sept. 13 over USC Upstate, Appalachian has totaled eight goals off five assists and have fired 77 total shots (33 on goal – .429 shot-on-goal percentage). In the recent six-match stretch, the Mountaineers have outshot opponents 77-56 with a 33-28 advantage on goal.