Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd College men's soccer program opened the new season at home against the University of Montevallo (Ala.), but fell short in a well-played game from the Turley Athletic Complex on Friday night, 1-0.
The Tritons moved to 0-1 on the season while the Falcons improved to 1-0 on the year. Montevallo now holds an 8-2-1 record in the series history between both respective programs.
In the first half, both teams went back-and-forth with possession until Montevallo registered the only goal of the game at the 13:25 mark in regulation.
Starting midfielder Pierre Omanga was fed down the side by teammate Roussin Nkoy. Omanga put in a left-footed shot from the edge of the box that scooted past EC goalkeeper
Toni Virtanen and turned out to be the decisive score.
The Tritons did all they could to get back into the game in the second half, but the Falcons held off a furious rally down the stretch.
Virtanen made three saves on the night and faced shots that banged off the crossbar and post.
In the second half of action, the Finnish product made a diving stop that swung momentum to Eckerd's side. His counterpart, UM's Brendan Ledgeway, earned the shutout victory in net as he recorded one save on the evening.
EC's
Matt Dolan posted a team-high two shots on goal, including one before halftime that skipped just wide left of Ledgeway. Junior
Mark Lee, freshman
Nick Jackson and sophomore
Nick Murawski added one each.
The Falcons ended up outshooting the Tritons, 10-5. Montevallo earned five corner kicks compared to Eckerd's three.
The Tritons will be competing on a neutral pitch next Thursday as they move into the month of September, traveling to Tampa to play Clayton State (Ga.) University, another opponent from the Peach Belt Conference.
The match is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
