Box Score Game Stats
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The men’s soccer team fell just short of grabbing their first conference win Tuesday night, getting edged out by conference opposition, Appalachian State 1-0. The Mountaineers scored a goal 15 minutes into the second half, and held the one goal advantage for the rest of the match. Coach Polson’s squad drops to a 1-7-2 record on the season and a 0-3 standing in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State grabs their second win in the Southern Conference, posting a 2-0 record. The Mountaineers have a 5-4-2 record on the regular season.
At the start of regulation, Wofford goalkeeper, Andrew Drennan, was forced to pull out a couple of spectacular saves early in the first half. Near the fourth minute, Drennan stretched his body full-length to stop a shot by ASU’s Ethan Durland. In the 13th minute Drennan pushed his body parallel to the ground, gobbling up a similar shot by ASU’s Sean Dreybus. Drennan’s effort kept the Mountaineers off the board the entire first half.
Wofford had some of the best chances to go on the scoreboard 25 minutes into the first half, with a string of attacks dropping just short of going into the back of the net. Wilson Hood had a shot blocked near the left side of the 18 yard box that deflected off an ASU defender for a Wofford corner. Armin Kinigadner took the corner and placed the ball toward the far post. Andrew Eppelsheimer leapt over opposing defenders to direct the ball off his head toward the Mountaineer net, only to have it sail just high of the cross bar.
When the halftime whistle blew, the score drew even between the two programs, 0-0.
Appalachian took the lead in the first 15 minutes of the second half with a goal by Sean Dreybus. Appalachian State had a low ball crossed near the 6 yard box. Drennan stepped out of the net to grab the ball before it could find the foot of the competition. With players in the face of Drennan, the ball deflected off the goalkeeper and out toward the top of the 18’. Dreybus took the ball on the foot and lined up a shot toward a wide open Wofford net, scoring his fourth goal of the season, and putting ASU up 1-0.
Wofford had two close attempts near the end of the match that could have been the equalizer that fell just short.
Kentrel Owens streamed a shot toward the left side netting, forcing ASU keeper Drake Branson to scramble and make a full-length dive to save the ball.
Ryan Hurst nearly tapped a ball in with only four seconds remaining. Hurst slipped past the defenders and tried to catch up to a through ball that was pushed a few too many yards in front of him, forcing the freshman go on a foot race to the ball with the keeper. Hurst slid to try and sneak the ball past Branson, but Branson slid at the same time and the ball bounced off the keeper’s chest and out of harm’s way before the clock ran out.
The Terriers continue conference play on the road against Elon this Saturday, October 16th. Wofford will face off against the Phoenix at 7:00pm.
