Eagles Surge Past Gardner-Webb 2-1 on Rector’s Game-Winner

Sunday, September 1

Statesboro

2:30 p.m.

Georgia Southern University

1-1

Gardner-Webb

1-1

Gardner-Webb

Georgia Southern

Eagles Surge Past Gardner-Webb 2-1 on Rector’s Game-Winner

9/1/2013 5:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Eagles finish second in SoCon/Big South Challenge with the victory

STATESBORO, GA. – Georgia Southern Men's Soccer capped off a victorious 24-hour span at the Erk Russell Park with a 2-1 win over Gardner-Webb to close the 2013 SoCon/Big South Challenge. The visitors scored the opener on 31 minutes, but goals from Eric Dinka and Jeremy Rector in the 36th and 63rd minutes gave GSU the 2-1 win.

"Gardner-Webb is a very dangerous opponent, but we responded well after they got an early goal," said Head Coach Kevin Kennedy. "I was really
proud of our guys to fight back through the adversity and tired legs to get a good result today."

Gardner-Webb drew first blood in the 31st minute when Ali Al-Gashamy found Denzel Clark's head at the center of the danger area for the Bulldogs' only goal of the afternoon.

Eric Dinka drew the Eagles level less than six minutes later with his first goal of the season. The sophomore striker got on the end of a Witt Carlisle cross in the box and struck the ball on the volley into the net to tie the match at 1-1.

That was the score at the break with the Eagles leading in the shots department 7-4.

In the second half the Eagles took the lead in the 63rd minute when freshman Jeremy Rector opened his career scoring account with a wonderful counterattack goal. Rector, playing in just his second collegiate game, was sprung on a counterattack and beat a defender in the center of the park to get free on goal. He beat the GWU keeper 1v1 for his first collegiate goal.

Neal Bates was splendid between the pipes, holding the Garner-Webb attack to just one goal. The netminder made nine saves including seven in the second half.

Bates earned a spot on the SoCon/Big South Challenge All-Tournament Team along with teammates Hunter Norton and Josh Ward.

The Eagles are off for the next week before traveling to face Duke on September 10th in Durham.
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