DAHLONEGA, Ga. - Last season, the Eckerd men's soccer team had its share of struggles on the road.
If today's outcome is a barometer, it seems that the Tritons may have figured out how to solve that issue.
EC dominated the second half in earning its first win of the season, getting two goals from
Robert Labus in a 3-0 win over the University of North Georgia.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 3, North Georgia 0
Records: Eckerd 1-1, North Georgia 1-1
All-Time Series: Eckerd leads, 4-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- North Georgia appeared to take a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on a goal by Alex Grant, but it was waved off following Grant's being called offsides. EC also saw an early opportunity come up empty as UNG keeper Cade Minton stopped a penalty kick by
Juan David Tejada.
- Eckerd was able to create chances early but didn't break through until the 37th minute on a brilliant sequence that started with goalkeeper
Alex Gott. A series of six passes culminated with the ball centered into the box from the right side.
Matheus Assumpcao came away with it and back-heeled the ball to Labus, who in turn back-heeled it into the net after Minton came off his line.
- The Tritons took a 1-0 lead into halftime and doubled it shortly thereafter with Labus's second goal of the match.
Niklas Sommerer took the ball away from a Nighthawk defender in the left corner, then carried it down the line where he slotted a pass to Labus near the penalty spot. Labus one-timed it past a diving Minton giving EC a 2-0 lead.
- Eckerd capped the scoring in the 67th minute on a perfectly-placed cross from
T.J. Soehn served from the left side of the field to the far post. He found Tejada who leaped over his defender and headed the ball inside the post for his first goal of the year.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Eckerd's dominance of possession increased as the match progressed. The Tritons outshot UNG, 23-12, in the contest including a 12-4 edge in the second half.
- Tejada and Assumpcao each ripped five shots while Sommerer took four. Labus made good on two of his three attempts.
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Alex Gott recorded his first clean sheet of the season and 12th of his career, stopping all four shots he faced.
NOTABLE
- Labus's brace was the first two-goal effort of his Eckerd career.
- Gott moved into sole possession of fourth place on the program's all-time shutout ranking. He needs four more to claim the third-place spot.
- The Tritons shut out the Nighthawks for the second straight year. EC took a 1-0 win last season in St. Petersburg.
QUOTABLE
"The exact areas of the game we were found lacking on Thursday were much improved today. That was expected, and the result is directly correlated to these details. Today was a great example of a team effort: many contributors, each one doing his respective job." - EC head coach
Ian Cameron.
UP NEXT
- The Tritons will enjoy a little down time before taking Johnson Field for their home opener on Friday, September 8, hosting Florida National at 7:00 PM.
