ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's soccer team wasted little time getting on the board, scoring in the opening minute on the way to a dominant 3-1 victory on Wednesday night over the Lions at Johnson Field.
Less than a minute into the game, the Tritons set the precedent, getting the ball inside the box where Eckerd was awarded a penalty kick following a handball. Tommy Lamb took the kick to give the Tritons the 1-0 favor a mere 47 seconds into the match. The Tritons fired off another three more shots in the opening ten minutes to keep the pressure on the Lions. Another trio of Eckerd shots ended in a goal, as Harry Laing sent a high ball in to Blaine Sutton who found Tommy Shepherd to put the Tritons up 2-0 in the 18th minute. The Tritons' defense was locked down in the opening frame, not allowing a single shot on goal as the half ended 2-0.
Blaine Sutton added his second goal on the season off of a touch by Luciano Rodriguez for a comfortable 3-0 favor. In the 83rd minute, the Lions had their first quality chance that was fended off by Triton keeper Aidan Leak, but the Tritons were unable to clear the ball as Federico Tellechea converted to narrow Eckerd's lead back down to two. The Tritons won the game by a final tally of 3-1.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 3, Saint Leo 1
RECORDS: Eckerd 4-4-4 (2-3-2 SSC); Saint Leo 3-6-4 (1-3-2 SSC)
GOALS: EC - Lamb 1' (unassisted), Shepherd 19' (Laing, Sutton), Sutton 55' (Rodriguez); SLU - Tellechea 83' (Mitchell)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Lamb's penalty kick goal was the fastest Triton goal this season, only 47 seconds into the game. Prior to tonight, the quickest start by Eckerd was last season when Lamb again converted on a penalty kick 15 seconds into the game against the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
- Shepherd's goal tonight gives him three on the season to lead the squad. Sutton and Lamb's goals were both their second of the season. He has 17 for his career, ranking 13th in program history.
- Leak and Lamb both played the full 90 minutes.
- Laing led the Tritons with five shots. Jannick Brengel, Victor Milton, Rodriguez, and Sutton each added two to pace Eckerd to a 19-shot night.
- Sutton tallied three points on the night, tied with Rodriguez for most points in a single game this season.
UP NEXT
Eckerd travels to Winter Park on Saturday for a 7:00 PM kickoff against Rollins College.
