Drexel University
UNC Wilmington
UNC Wilmington Prevails Over Drexel, 1-0, In a Physical Match
10/15/2006 3:13:57 PM | Men's Soccer
Philadelphia, Pa. – In a match that was a physical battle from start to finish, the decisive goal was set up by the speed of UNC Wilmington's Tim Masters and Anthony Allen who connected in the 81st minute to give the Seahawks (9-5-1, 4-4 CAA) a 1-0 victory over Drexel (6-8-0, 2-6 CAA).
UNC Wilmington used its physical presence to control play through the majority of the first period. Eight of the 13 players who saw time for the Seahawks were 5-foot-11-inches or taller, and the team used this to its advantage to win headers and make tackles at midfield. The Dragons countered with quick attacks that attempted to capitalize on miscues by the Seahawks' back line.
First-year player Greg Ermold entered the match in the 29th minute and provided an instant lift for the Dragons. At 6-foot-2-inches, Ermold gave Drexel another big body to match up against the height of UNC Wilmington. In the 37th minute Ermold chased down a bounding serve from Brandon Fischer just inside the penalty box. Knifing between two defenders, Ermold thrust his foot out to chip the ball up just before Seahawks' keeper Brad Knighton could grab it. But Ermold's flick was a little too high and it landed benignly on the back side of the net.
Drexel managed to outshoot UNC Wilmington 4-3 in the opening period, but the Seahawks earned two corner kicks while holding the Dragons without that set-piece opportunity.
The second half was a different story, however, as Drexel used quick counter attacks and reversal of the field to negate the Seahawks prowess on headers by playing the ball into space and trying to make uncontested passes.
Leland Raum, who made his first start of his career and played 88 solid minutes for Drexel, gave the Dragons their best scoring opportunity of the match just three minutes into the second half. Raum wove his way into the penalty box and found himself in the right position to receive a high cross from the left side. Not waiting for the defense to have an opportunity to clear the ball, Raum stretched his leg into the air with his back to the goal, and struck an arcing rainbow shot over Knighton's head. The ball came within inches of a goal, but instead glanced off the crossbar, denying the Dragons the first score of the match.
Drexel had another opportunity in the 71st minute when a quick counter attack led to a give-and-go exchange between the Dragons' pair of West Chester Henderson grads. Anthony Bafile fed Todd Wampler with a nifty pass on the left side of the penalty box. Wampler took two touches to carry the ball toward the goal, then blasted a shot across its face. Knighton wisely cut off the angle to make the save.
The Seahawks turned the Dragons' game plan against them in the 81st minute, working for a quick counter and capitalizing on it. Allen rolled a quick pass into space on the left side of the penalty box where Masters sprinted to receive it. He carried the ball into the goal box where Robertson came of his line to challenge it. Masters blasted a shot to the right of Robertson which tipped off both the keeper and defender Kwesi Klass who had charged back to support Robertson on the far side.
Masters' goal prove to be the difference in the match as Drexel could not come up with the equalizer despite out-shooting the Seahawks 8-3 down the stretch and earning six second-half corner kicks. Knighton made three saves in the match to pick up the shutout. Robertson also made three stops in the loss for the Dragons.
The Dragons are in action again next Friday when they travel to Hofstra to take on the defending CAA Tournament champions at 7:00 p.m. The team returns to Vidas Field for its final home match of the season and Senior Day on Oct. 22 at 1:00 p.m. against Northeastern.
Drexel 0 0 - 0
UNCW 0 1 - 1
Goal summary:
80:17 UNCW Tim Masters (Anthony Allen)
Shots: DU 12, UNCW 6
Corners: DU 6, UNCW 2
Saves: Cory Robertson (DU) 3, Brad Knighton (UNCW) 3
