Mount Olive, NC – Southern Wesleyan challenged the University of Mount Olive Trojans in their first Conference Carolinas match-up of the season before dropping the game in a 4-1 final score.
The Warriors recorded six shots and two shots on goal in the loss to the Trojans.
Hykeem Martin and
Ryan Rodriguez had the lone shots on goal for the Warriors. Martin produced the lone goal of the game for Southern Wesleyan.
Will Hughes played all ninety minutes in goal for the Warriors, collecting ten saves in the process.
Game Vitals
Final: Mount Olive 4, Southern Wesleyan 1
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-3 / CC 0-1) Mount Olive (2-2 / CC 1-0)
Coach Quarandillo says...
"I am proud of my guys. This team is a lot of fun to coach. We finally have a deeper roster and that certainly helps us. Finding the right partnerships and formations is the challenge. Today's loss is on me as a coach. I set up a formation that wasn't the right one for today's game. We were never able to gain real possession and control the tempo. We still feel that we have a lot of talent and can be a challenge in most of these conference games. Now it's about fine tuning what we have and preparing for the next game."
How It Happened
The University of Mount Olive Trojans charged out of the scoring two goals off the feet of Ethan Willie and Axel Atie in the first five minutes of the game. However, a penalty in the box allowed
Hykeem Martin to take a penalty kick in the box. Martin sent the ball into the bottom corner of the net to put the Warriors down 2-1. The Trojans continued to challenge the Warriors defense, extending their lead to 3-1 on a goal by Alfie Pope. Mount Olive maintained the attack, but
Will Hughes and the Warriors defense stayed strong to keep the Trojans from extending their lead any further. Southern Wesleyan countered the Trojans with an attack on the net of their own as
Ryan Rodriguez rushed to the net and took a shot, but Axel Engren deflected the attack to keep the score at 3-1 going into halftime.
Mount Olive continued the attack in the second half as a foul in the box allowed them to take a penalty kick. However,
Will Hughes read the kick well as he saved the shot from Trevor Berk to keep the Trojans from extending their lead. The Trojans continued to attack but Hughes and the Warriors maintained strong. Southern Wesleyan did not let up their offensive attacks however, as
Feren Nunez and
Hykeem Martin took shots, but both their attacks went high. The Trojans extended their lead to 4-1 as Mustafa Nadeem got the ball around the Warrior defense. Mount Olive continued to attack the net with shots by Amin Ferreira and Alfie Pope, but
Will Hughes and the Southern Wesleyan defense stayed strong to protect the net. The Trojans went on to win the game 4-1.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC on September 18 as they host the Francis Marion Patriots on Childs Field at 7:30 p.m. They will then travel on September 21 to Due West, SC to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet at 7:30 p.m. The Warriors will return to Childs Field on September 25 at 2:30 p.m. to take on the Barton Bulldogs.
