Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Two days after two goals near the end of regulation propelled them to victory, the Eckerd Triton men's soccer team once again used late-match theatrics to stay unbeaten on the season.
Matheus Assumpcao buried the golden goal in the 96th minute to break a scoreless match and give Eckerd a 1-0 win over the University of North Georgia on Friday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.
Assumpcao, who assisted on three goals in EC's opener on Saturday, finished the job himself tonight.Â
Juan David Tejada sent a pass into the corner where Assumpcao tracked it down, dribbled free of his defender and ripped a low shot inside the left post. Â
It capped a match that grew more physical and more intense as the night progressed, with a total of nine cautions issued.
Both teams also had their share of chances, although most of UNG's came early. The Nighthawks (1-3) fired off two shots within the first four minutes, but both were turned away by EC keeper
Alex Gott.
Eckerd (3-0) also saw some quality opportunities narrowly miss the frame before Assumpcao's game-winner in overtime. The Tritons out-shot UNG, 18-10.
Gott stopped all five shots he faced for his second clean sheet of the season. The reigning SSC Defensive Player of the Year now has 10 shutouts in his career and is one away from tying for fourth place in Eckerd program history.
After what
Ian Cameron called a "step back" on Wednesday, the first-year head coach was very pleased with what he saw in tonight's effort.
"The boys were fantastic," he said. "Tonight is the first time where I've seen our team have an identity. We found who were are tonight and they see what they can be. We took a big step forward against a really good team."
The Tritons have another short turnaround, taking the field again in fewer than 48 hours when they host Clayton State (Ga.) on Sunday at 2:00 PM in the fourth of a five-match home stand.
