Charleston, W.Va.- The Golden Eagles men soccer program opened MEC play with a 3-0 victory over the Hilltoppers of West Liberty University.
The Basics:
Location: Welch Athletic Complex
Score: UC 3, WLU 0
Records: UC 2-0 (1-0 MEC), WLU 0-1 (0-1 MEC)
How it Happened:
On a scorching Sunday afternoon, Charleston faced off with the Hilltoppers of West Liberty to begin Mountain East Conference play. The Golden Eagles entered the contest 1-0 after a win on the road over Lincoln Memorial on Thursday while the Hilltoppers were opening their 2022 campaign.
Charleston dominated possession the entire match, keeping the ball in West Liberty territory for majority of the game. While on the attack, the Golden Eagles took fourteen shots, several of which West Liberty's Noah Underwood went on to save. It was in the thirty-fifth minute that Charleston striker
Paul Caliari snuck one past Underwood. With a great pass from
Joao Gallo Lima , the right foot of
Caliari would put Charleston on the board leading 1-0 with ten minutes left in the half.
With just fifty seconds left in the half, Charleston's
Joseph Gasper found himself fouled inside the eighteen-yard box, resulting in the Golden Eagles being awarded a penalty kick. Graduate student
Sam Bethell went on to take the penalty for the Golden Eagles.
Bethell sent a strike off his right foot into the bottom left corner of the goal, giving Charleston a 2-0 lead heading into the locker room.
Charleston continued to control possession in the second half, keeping the ball in the attacking half once again. While Charleston attempted ten shots, they could not seem to find the back of the net. It was looking like the game would end at 2-0, but with just thirty-nine seconds left in the match, Charleston found themselves celebrating a third goal. A shot by
Tristen Rose assisted by
Nolan Ross and
Sam Bethell would be the third and final goal of the match for the Golden Eagles.
Paul Caliari picked up his second goal of the season while goalie
Marc Torrado recorded his second save of 2022.
Up Next:
Charleston will return to action on next Sunday, September 4
th against the Falcons of Notre Dame College. That contest will be played at home at the Welch Athletic Complex at 4PM.