DAHLONEGA, Ga. (Sept. 1) – After conceding three goals in the second half, the University of Mount Olive men's soccer team suffered a 3-1 loss at the University of North Georgia in non-conference play on Thursday night.
With the loss, the Trojans drop to 2-1 this season after playing three non-conference opponents from three different states. Meanwhile, the Nighthawks improve to 2-1 overall and tally three goals in back-to-back matches after being picked fifth in the preseason Peach Belt Conference (PBC) poll.
In the first half, both teams pressured the net in the opening 20 minutes totaling three shots each. After a yellow card was issued to UNG in the 23rd minute, senior midfielder
Roberto Hernandez fired a shot in on goal to force a save by the goalkeeper at the 25:58-mark. Sophomore goalkeeper
Axel Engren grabbed three saves in the first half, including two in the final 15-plus minutes, as the game went into the break scoreless.
The Nighthawks halted the scoreless drought in the 52nd minute on a goal from freshman Joe McInnes, 1-0. UMO would look to tie the contest with three corner kicks and a shot over a seven-minute stretch, but were unable to find the back of the net. UNG extended the lead at the 61:59-mark of the second half on a goal from McInnes, his second of the game, 2-0. The Trojans continued to push in the attacking side with four shots, including two on goal, but the Nighthawks were able to keep UMO scoreless. UNG would tally a third goal in the 73rd minute off the foot of junior Dawid Zajac to stretch the lead. 3-0. After a foul in the box in the closing minutes, junior midfielder
Walter Gomez scored the penalty kick, his first goal of the season, to put the Trojans on the board in the 89th minute, 3-1
Engren finished the contest with five saves on 11 shots faced in 90 minutes of action.
UMO out-shot UNG by a 20-11 margin, including a 9-8 edge in shots on goal, while also posting a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Mount Olive returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it travels for its three-straight road contest at Anderson (S.C.), starting at 2 p.m.