Nashua - Senior captain Andre Garcia (Springfield, Mass.) and
sophomore Alex Jackson (Kent, Ohio) notched single goals in the
opening 14 minutes and the Daniel Webster College men's soccer team
defense held the Southern Vermont College offense in check the rest
of the way, as the Eagles held off the Mountaineers, 2-1 in a
physical NECC mid-season clash Saturday Eagle Field.
The win was a program record seventh straight for the Eagles (7-2,
3-0 NECC) as they continued their best start in history and
maintained sole possession of first place in the conference
standings. The win also cooled off a significantly improved
Southern Vermont club (8-3-1, 2-1-1 NECC) that had come in unbeaten
(7-0-1) over their previous eight outings.
Joe Keene (Bristol, N.H.) earned the win in goal for the Eagles
with six saves, while Mountaineer keeper Aaron Eschler
(Gloversville, N.Y.) made eight saves including three sparkling
stops in the second half.
Adrien Alexis (Maplewood, N.J.) notched his ninth of the season for
Southern Vermont.
Garcia put the hosts ahead on their first shot of the day just 1:28
into the contest heading home a Rasmus Ronas (Gotheborg, Swe.)
cross pass into the far right corner for his first of the
season.
Jackson would double the lead at the 14:01 mark. After rookie Joel
Jerrhag (Ystad, Swe.) intercepted a Mountaineer clearing attempt
deep in the SVC zone, Jackson hopped on the loose ball and hooked a
smooth 15-yarder into the top left corner past a sprawling
Eschler.
The Eagles controlled the tempo through much of the opening frame
finishing with a 7-2 shots advantage.
Southern Vermont pressed in the second, carrying the play through
the opening 25 minutes and cut the lead in half in the 53rd when
Alexis (Maplewood, N.J.) took a Nick Haggerty (Wynantskill, N.Y.)
steal and with Keene challenging, dropped a soft 20-yarder floater
over the keeper for his ninth of the year and a 2-1 game.
But the Eagle defense buttoned down over the final 15 minutes and
limited SVC to just one scoring threat in the final moments.
Both teams were physical throughout with a total of 33 fouls
whistled. The Eagles finished with a 12-8 total shots
advantage.
The Eagles return to action Monday hosting New England College at
3:30 p.m.
Southern Vermont visits Johnson State Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
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