Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan shut out the Emory & Henry Wasps in the season opener to claim a 2-0 goal victory on Thursday evening.
The Warriors totaled five shots with four being on target during the game. Matias Garnier picked up the first goal of the season off a corner kick by Michael Boyle. The other goal of the game came off the foot of junior captain Josiah Pitts. Luke Bramblett played all ninety minutes in the goal and collected five saves.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 2, Emory & Henry 0
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-0) Emory & Henry (0-1)
How It Happened
Emory & Henry charged out of the gate as Matheus Da Silva and Lander Barrio Gonzalez all took shots on the goal. However, the Warriors defense was able to force the shots away to prevent the Wasps from taking the early lead. Da Silva attacked again as he got past the defense to take a shot, but Luke Bramblett was there to snatch the ball away from finding the net. The Warriors countered just over thirty minutes into the first half as the Wasps kicked a ball out on the back line to lead to a corner kick. Michael Boyle took the corner and sent it into the lower corner of the box. Matias Garnier was there and headed it into the back of the goal to put the Warriors on top 1-0 at halftime.
The Wasps came out with a vengeance in the second half of the game as Milan Ales and Louis Demarest each sent the ball into the box. However, the Warriors back line blocked their attacks. Emory & Henry would not relent as Jean Charles Eyidi got past Luke Bramblett and sent the ball toward the goal. Sebastian Zumbada raced past the ball and cleared it out of the box before it could find the back of the net to tie the game. The Warriors went on the offensive seven minutes into the second half as a foul allowed Luis Lezama to take a free kick. Lezama tapped the ball over to Gabriel Melendez who sent the ball into the lower corner of the box to Josiah Pitts. Pitts snuck the ball past a diving Nikolaj Bertelsen to score the Warriors second goal of the game. Emory & Henry continued their attacks with several shots off the foot of Matheus Da Silva, but Bramblett was able to knock each attack away to prevent them from cutting into Southern Wesleyan's lead. The Warriors would walk away with a 2-0 shut out in the season opener.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Childs Field on September 6 as they host the Shaw Bears at 3:30 pm. They will then travel to Aiken, SC to take on the USC Aiken Pacers at 7pm. The Warriors will open up Conference Carolinas action on September 13 as they travel up to Belmont, NC to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders.
