SPOKANE, Wash. - The Georgia Southern men's soccer team (0-4) dropped a tough match 3-0 to Gonzaga (2-1-2) in the opener of the Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic.
The Eagles kept pace with the Bulldogs in almost ever statistic. They recorded nine shots on goal to Gonzaga's 10, and both teams took two corner kicks.
Georgia Southern got shots on goal from six different players. Rich Heyer (Tupelo, Miss.), Jon Cox (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Austin Steele (Kennesaw, Ga.) all recorded a pair of shots on goal.
Both teams got the offense started early. The Eagles attacked first when Matt Starks' (Cumming, Ga.) header from 15 yards out hit the crossbar in the 4th minute. The Bulldogs notched their first shot on goal in the 6th minute with a shot from the left side that was saved by Joey Ralph (Evans, Ga.).
Mike Gubosh (Evans, Ga.) entered the game at the 8:23 mark and less than a minute later recorded a save. Gon Schilperoort won a battle for the ball and took a short chip shot that Gubosh saved.
The Eagles' defense blocked a pair of shot attempts by Tye Perdido in the 16th minute.
The Eagles went on the offensive in the 22nd minute, recording three shots on goal in a two minute span. Heyer recorded his first shot on goal in the 22nd minute with a shot from 14 yards out. Cox launched a low shot to the post in the 23rd minute that was saved by Scott Barnum. Heyer came back a minute later with a short chest-high shot.
The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the 40th minute with a long free kick shot by Ben Funkhouser from 35 yards out.
Cameron Troutman (Ocean Springs, Miss.) recorded the final shot of the half. Troutman launched a short shot off of a throw, but Scott Barnum made a juggling save to end the half.
The second half started much like the first with the Eagles and the Bulldogs both on the attack. Steele and David Leonard (Augusta, Ga.) both had great chances. Leonard's shot from the right side hit the far post in the 49th minute. Steele stroked a low shot from 14 yards out that was saved at the post in the 50th minute.
Gonzaga notched their second goal at the 71:41 mark. Nick Barclay found the left side of the net after a through pass. The Bulldogs added their third goal 11 minutes later when Tye Perdido knocked in a through ball at close range.
The Eagles will wrap up the Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic Sunday with a match against Oregon State at 1:30 p.m.
