STATESBORO, Ga. - Jacksonville men's soccer solidified its second win in a row 1-0 vs. Georgia Southern Tuesday night in Eagle Field at Erk Park.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tonight was merely a test of defensive endurance and strength. The Dolphins jumped ahead on the scoreboard early; defender Cole Reasonover managed to score a goal within the first three minutes of the match. Reasonover wasn't alone in attacking Georgia Southern early; he was beautifully assisted by midfielder Owen Guske, giving them a 1-0 advantage. The match was then decided by the Dolphins' ability to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard. The Eagles attempted to level the score in the first half, with Finn Weigelt and Alex Smith both taking convincing shots on goal. However, JU keeper Christian Sekanina was never short of perfection on the night, saving two goals early and nearly tying his season high of saves. Sekanina finished the match with a game-high of six saves for the Dolphins, solidifying the win.
The second half was almost like a tale of two stories. Both teams battled on the defensive front, keeping the match scoreless. However, Georgia Southern came out trigger-happy, taking three quick shots at the Dolphin defense. Viewers could tell that head coach Lee Squires had made adjustments for the Eagles at halftime. In the end, the Dolphins triumphed as Head Coach Ali Simmons managed to keep his team disciplined enough to hold onto the lead.
WHAT THEY SAID
"We started the game well, scored early, and looked like the better side for the first 20 minutes," said Coach Simmons. "We should have stepped on the gas at that point. As is often the case in many games, the momentum shifted, they made some adjustments, and appeared stronger after that point. Coach Squires is someone I look up to, and I am looking forward to following Georgia Southern. It was not our finest performance, but we defended bravely, and everyone put in a shift. That clean sheet belongs to the whole team. I am pleased that we were able to win a game even with a subpar performance in possession. We move on to conference play!"
ADDITIONAL NOTES
UP NEXT
JU returns to the pitch on Saturday, September 16 for in-state rival FGCU. The match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will feature Jacksonville University Greek life night.
