Men's Soccer 10/8/2021 9:50:00 PM Chelsea Roemer

Dolphins Put Out Flames to Earn First Road Win

Box Score LYNCHBURG, Va. - Jacksonville's men's soccer team (3-7-0, 2-2-0 ASUN) picked up its second conference victory on the road against Liberty (5-5-0, 2-2-0 ASUN) on Friday night, 2-0. The Dolphins had a stellar outing on defense, preventing the Flames from getting onto the scoreboard to grab the team's first road win.

The Dolphins and Flames both showed a strong defensive presence right out of the gate. Through the first 17 minutes of action, the game was quiet as the ball made its way evenly across the field with neither team managing to attempt a shot. Liberty broke the silence at the 18 minute mark after pursuing the first shot of the game, but just missed the inside of the goal. Two minutes later, Reed Davis would attempt the first shot of the match for the Dolphins, but would ultimately miss the inside of the net as well.

JU and Liberty fell back into a quiet pattern through the next 20 minutes of play, as either team was unable to achieve more shot attempts. Once again, Liberty broke through first and attempted the team's second shot of the game at the 36 minute mark, but the Dolphins would block the ball and prevent Liberty from scoring. The pace began to pick up on offense for JU and Liberty in the last five minutes of the half. At the 41 minute mark, Liberty would launch the ball right into the hands of the Dolphins' starting keeper, Eduardo Thome. This marked Thome's first save in his first start of the 2021 fall campaign. Following the Flames' lead, JU's Jose Manzo attempted a shot with one minute remaining, but the ball fell outside of the goal post.

The team's statistics were almost dead even going into halftime, with the Dolphins trailing the Flames by one shot attempt with three.

JU proved to be the better offensive team as soon as the whistle blew to start the second period. Sean Kgwakgwa took the first shot of the half within the first minute, but just missed the goal. Five minutes later, Olivier Correa found an open space in the top right of the net to put JU on the board, 1-0. This would be Correa's second goal of the season and his first time scoring since JU's home opener against Wofford. Through the next fifteen minutes of action, each team rattled off one shot before the Dolphin offense began to take full control.

During the last half of the period, JU's solid defense held Liberty to only three shot attempts while its offense managed to keep the ball on the Flames side of the field. At the 87 minute mark, Kgwakgwa snuck the ball past the goalkeeper and scored his first goal of the season to extend the Dolphins lead, 2-0. Liberty was unable to tie the game to force an overtime period, and the Dolphins secured its second ASUN victory of the season.

"This was a great road win led by an incredible defensive line," head coach Maruicio Ruiz said. "All around everyone played well, with a big shout-out to Thome for getting his first start of the season for us."

Up next, the Dolphins return to Southern Oak Stadium to compete against ASUN opponent, Central Arkansas. The contest is scheduled for Saturday Oct. 16 at 7:00 p.m. The evening will serve as Pink Out night, fans are encouraged to wear pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Reed Davis: M/F; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#19 Jose Manzo: D; 5' 7"; Fifth Year

#21 Olivier Correa: M; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

#23 Sean Kgwakgwa: M; 5' 10"; Freshman

#30 Eduardo Thome: GK; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#13 Reed Davis
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: M/F

#19 Jose Manzo
: 5' 7"; Fifth Year
: D

#21 Olivier Correa
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: M

#23 Sean Kgwakgwa
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: M

#30 Eduardo Thome
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: GK