Men?s Soccer Wins Home Battle versus App. St.

STATESBORO, Ga. – Freshman forward Luigi Clendening scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute, lifting the Eagles to a 3-2 advantage over Appalachian State, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 20), in a Southern Conference match-up at Eagle Field.

With the win, the Eagles improve to 6-8-0 overall and 2-3-0 in conference play.  The Mountaineers fall to 6-6-3 overall and 2-3-1 in league action.

Clendening’s goal in the 87th minute was his second on the day and fifth in his rookie season as the Eagles clinched their first league win since Wofford (Sep. 27).

Appalachian State came out strong early in the first half, producing a 9-2 advantage in shots.  But after a pair of opportunities from BJ Reine (Baton Rouge, La.) and Daniel Smith (Marietta, Ga.), Georgia Southern was the first to get up on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute.   Junior Scott DeVault (Woodstock, Ga.) sent a free kick from 40 yards out into the box where freshman Austin Steele (Kennesaw, Ga.) flicked the ball into the net for his second winner of the season.

The Mountaineers responded in the 45th minute when J.T. LaBrugere sent a low header eight yards out into the back of the net, thanks to a corner kick pass from Michael Walters.

Both teams went into the locker room with a 1-1 tie.  Appalachian State held an 11-7 advantage in shots and a 5-1 lead in corner kicks.

In the 58th minute, Clendening netted his first of two goals to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.  Teammate Patrick Johns (Cumming, Ga.) fed a sprinting Clendening with a lob pass overhead.  Clendening beat the defense and knocked in the shot over the ASU keeper.

Again, Appalachian State countered with a goal off the foot of Tim Bender in the 64th minute to tie up the match.  Juan Obregon passed to Bender inside the box, and Bender finished with a shot into the left side of the net.

The Eagles had a chance to up their score in the 86th minute when an Appalachian State foul in the box awarded Georgia Southern a penalty kick.  Mountaineer keeper Greg Walters made the diving save to his right to keep the score knotted at 2-2.

But less than one minute later, Clendening knocked in the game-winner to give the Eagles a 3-2 edge in the few remaining minutes.

The Georgia Southern defense managed to curb Appalachian State’s opportunities to seven shots in the second half, compared to GSUs eight, and the Mountaineers were unable to even up the score as time expired.

Eagle goalkeeper Joey Ralph (Martinez, Ga.) made eight saves in a full day in the cage and garnered his second win on the season.  For ASU, Walters made five saves in 90 minutes of play.

The Mountaineers edged the Eagles in total shots (18-15) while commanding a 7-1 lead in corner kicks.

Georgia Southern will next travel to Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, October 26 for an 8 p.m. match.  The game is scheduled to be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel.

Category: Men's Soccer

Published on Saturday, 20 October 2007 00:02