BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Georgia Southern Men's Soccer opened the 2014 season on a winning note on Friday evening with a 2-1 triumph over Gardner-Webb in the season opener for both sides. The Eagles got two goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, and was able to defend over the next 80 minutes to take the victory.
"I'm really proud of the guys," said Head Coach
Kevin Kennedy. "It is always difficult to open the year on the road. We came into a difficult venue and played a good team in Gardner-Webb. I'm proud of the guys for showing a lot of perseverance and fight to get the win."
Emmanuel Raji drew first blood in the third minute of the match, putting the Eagles up 1-0. An
Ethan LaPan pass sprung the junior attacker down the flank where Raji was able to tuck the ball into the bottom corner of the net past the goalkeeper.
In the 10th Minute, Raji played a nifty through ball behind the defense to
David Vargas Masis. The senior forward struck the ball on the half volley and drove a frozen rope into the goal. The tally upped the Georgia Southern advantage to 2-0.
The Eagles, in search of a third goal, found the net, but had the goal called back when Georgia Southern was ruled offsides on the play.
Gardner-Webb got a late goal to reduce the margin to 2-1 when Jerome Roche scored in the 82nd minute. The Bulldogs took two shots in the final eight minutes, but did not find the net.
Eagle goalkeeper
Jack Falle, making his first appearance since the 2012 season, made six saves against 13 shots from the Runnin' Bulldogs. Georgia Southern's offense recorded 16 shots on the night including four from Raji and freshman
Thor Sveinbjornsson.
The Eagles face Winthrop in the final day of the SoCon/Big South Challenge. That game starts at 1 p.m. and can be seen live on the Big South Network.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics. To purchase tickets call 1-800-GSU-WINS.
