The margin for error remains small in both men’s and Womens’s soccer contests as teams seek to settle into a consistent rhythm of Play on both sides of the ball in a shortened season
Men’s College Soccer
South Carolina 1 – Mercer 0 – This one which took place in Macon, Georgia was scoreless until the 75th minute of play when freshman defender Christian Kraus netted what proved to be the game-winner for South Carolina with a double assist coming from junior forward Andrew Halloran and freshman midfielder Spencer Mallion.
The Gamecock victory moved Mark Berson into a tie for the third-most all-time wins in NCAA men’s soccer history.
Redshirt senior Nick Brady had a five save evening to post the shutout in goal for South Carolina. Redshirt freshman Brant Zulauf had four saves between the pipes for Mercer. Mercer had a thirteen to nine advantage in shots.
South Carolina improves to 2-2-0 and will close out the fall season when they host UAB on Saturday, October 24. Mercer is 1-3-0 and will close out their fall season when they travel to Lexington to face Kentucky on Wednesday, October 14.
North Carolina 1 – Clemson 0 – Buzzer beaters in Chapel Hill usually occur in the Dean Dome but this one took place at Dorrance Field.
Graduate Student defender Fillipo Zattarin, who is a transfer from Saint Mary’s College, came up big for UNC when he scored the game-winner for the Tar Heels with only one tick remaining in regulation to give UNC a hard-fought win over a very talented Clemson team. The sequence began when a Clemson foul resulted in a Tar Heel free kick ten yards outside of the left side of the box with five seconds remaining. Junior midfielder Milo Garvanian put the free kick in play with a ball into the box that freshman forward Akeim Clarke redirected that Zattarin headed into the upper right corner of the net.
Junior Alec Smir had two saves in goal for North Carolina. Junior George Marks had two saves in goal for Clemson.
North Carolina improves to 2-0-0. The Tar Heels will travel to face Wake Forest on Sunday, October 18. Clemson is 2-1-0 and will host Wake Forest on Tuesday, October 13.
Duke 3 – NC State 1 – All the scoring in this one took place in the second half. A blend of newcomers and veterans combined to give Duke the big play ability that they needed to top the Wolfpack.
Freshman defender Lewis McGarvey broke the ice for the Blue Devils in the 60th minute of play when he made a nice run to be in the right place at the right time to send a header into the back of the net out of a free kick served in by senior defender Matthias Frick. Graduate Student midfielder Jack Doran gave Duke a 2-0 advantage when he scored out of a free kick that was put in play by freshman midfielder Nick Pariano from just outside the eighteen-yard box in the 68th minute of the contest.
NC State then pulled one back in the 70th minute when junior forward Ivy Brisma placed a header into the upper right corner of the net out of a corner kick served in by teammate junior defender Pepe Garcia.
Senior forward Daniel Wright sealed the win for Duke in the 87th minute when he sent a one-timer into the back of the net out of another free kick.
Redshirt junior Leon Krapf had three saves in goal for the Wolfpack. Senior Will Pulisic had a two save evening between the pipes for the Blue Devils.
It was a solid on the road victory in ACC play for Duke who up their record to 2-2-0. Duke has another difficult road contest coming up when the travel to face Clemson on Friday, October 16 at Historic Riggs Field. NC State is now 0-3-0 and will seek to get in the win column when they host Navy on Sunday, October 18.
Virginia 2 – Louisville 1 (ot) – Virginia showed a little rust in their season opener but nonetheless did what they needed to do to pull out the win over a game Louisville team.
The first half was scoreless as both teams sought to settle into a rhythm on the offensive side of the ball. Senior forward Nathaniel Crofts got the Cavaliers on the board in the 52nd minute utilizing his quickness to create the space he needed to skillfully slot a shot into the back of the frame from close range. The goal was set up by a very crisp combination of passes between midfielders redshirt freshman Isaiah Byrd and Graduate Student Joan Gilbert.
It looked like Croft’s goal would be enough for a Cavalier win until junior forward Pedro Fonseca made a nice move off the dribble after receiving a pass from freshman forward Aboubacar Camara to create the space he needed to drive a shot into the upper left corner of the net from the top right corner of the box with 47 seconds left in regulation to tie the contest at 1-1 and send the match into overtime.
The first overtime period was scoreless. The game-winner for Virginia came in the 109th minute when freshman Leo Afonso was fouled in the box with just over a minute remaining in the second overtime period. Sophomore Forward Philip Horton then converted the penalty kick to give Virginia the edge they needed to secure the win.
Graduate Student Colin Shutler had an eight save evening in goal for the Cavaliers. Redshirt senior Jake Gelnovatch had a two save evening in goal for Louisville.
Virginia is 1-0-0. Virginia hopes to build on their season opener when they travel to Blacksburg on Wednesday, October 14 to tangle with Virginia Tech. Louisville is 1-3-0 and will travel to face Syracuse on Friday, October 16.
Women’s College Soccer
Duke 2 – Virginia Tech 0 – This one took place at Koskinen Stadium in Durham. Duke got the best of the run of play with a six to one advantage in shots in the first stanza but neither team was able to breakthrough. The Blue Devils got on the board in the 66th minute when freshman forward Olivia Migli was fouled in the box and senior defender Caitlin Cosme decisively converted the ensuing penalty kick.
Junior defender Delaney Graham netted the insurance goal for Duke in the 84th minute. The goal was set up when junior forward Marykate McGuire alertly controlled a rebound and sent a pass to Graham.
Duke had a twenty-two to two shot advantage for the evening. Sophomore Ruthie Jones recorded the shutout in goal for Duke. Alia Skinner had an eight save evening for the Hokies.
Duke is now 3-1-2 and will travel to Chestnut Hill to face Boston College on Thursday, October 15. Virginia Tech is 1-6-0 and will host Miami on Thursday, October 15.
Texas 7 – Kansas State 0 – This one was all Texas from the get-go. Haley Berg opened the scoring for the Longhorns in the 3rd minute of play. Emma Regan converted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute to make it 2-0 Texas. Julia Grosso, Cameron Brooks, Lauryn Oliver, Presley Echols and Kailey Smith scored for the Longhorns in the second half. Texas improves to 2-3-0. Kansas State drops to 0-4-0.
Tennessee 2 – Missouri 1 – Midfielder Alicia Donley sent a header into the back of the frame out of a free kick served in by sophomore midfielder Claudia Dipasupil with twelve seconds remaining in the first half of the contest to give Tennessee a 1-0 lead heading into intermission. Jaida Thomas made it 2-0 Tennessee when she placed a shot into the upper left corner from close range with Dipasupil and midfielder Mackenzie George conributing helpers on the play. MIssouri’s Zoe Cross drove a shot into the upper right corner from long range in the 79th minute to make it 2-1 but that concluded the scoring for the evening. Missouri had a seventeen to seven shot advantage but they were unable to capitalize on it.
Lindsey Romig had eight saves in goal for Tennessee. Isabella Alessio had a four save effort in goal for Missouri.
Tennessee improves to 2-2-0 while Missouri drops to 1-2-0.
Louisiana 2 – Little Rock 0 – This one was played in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Coleman Sports Complex. All the scoring took place in the first half of play. Junior defender Gwen Mummert converted a header our of a corner kick in the 26th minute with an assist from junior forward Lizzie Mayfield to give Louisiana a 1-0 advantage. Mayfield then added what proved to be the final goal of the contest with a helper from redshirt junior forward Grace Champagne with a minute let in the first stanza. The goal was Mayfield’s fourth of the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Lauryn Starwood who is from Layayette, Louisiana had eight saves to record the Ragin’ Cajuns fourth consecutive shutout. Saskia Wagner had six saves between the pipes for Little Rock.
Louisiana improves to 6-3-0 while Little Rock drops to 1-4-0.
TCU 2 – Oklahama State 1 (ot) – TCU came from behind on the road to win its third consecutive contest to improve to 3-0-1. The TCU win halted Oklahoma State’s twelve-game regular season unbeaten streak.
Senior defender Hannah Wabb found the back of the net in the 23rd minute for Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls 1-0 advantage held until the 86th minute when TCU’s Maddy Warren provided the equalizer with an assist from teammate Grace Collins to force overtime. TCU then secured the win when defender Brandi Peterson made a nice move off the dribble to create the space she needed to send a shot into the back of the net from the top of the box in the first overtime period.
Senior Emily Alvarado from El Paso, Texas was outstanding in goal for TCU with a seven save evening. Emily Plotz had four saves in goal for Oklahoma State.
TCU will host Texas Tech on Friday, October 16. Oklahama State drops to 3-1-1 and will seek to get back in the win column when they travel to Lawrence to face Kansas on Friday, October 16.
