University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs Continue The Pursuit of Greatness on Day Seven in Costa Rica - Blog and Match Report
05.21.2017 | Men's Soccer
Day Seven Photos (Gallery on Facebook)
We started off today with some extra time to sleep in after all of our previous busy days. This was our first morning at the beach, and waking up to the sights and sounds of sun and waves is always a great feeling. We enjoyed breakfast right by the ocean. The food has exceeded expectations for every meal this trip. Afterwards, the team came together for a meeting on the beach about the upcoming game against Liberia. We then rested until we had lunch, which was also right by the ocean. We then got on a bus for our drive to play Liberia. The heat was more intense today, and despite a good effort to come back in the second half, when the final whistle blew the result was a 4-2 loss. The team was the best we have played in Costa Rica. It was a good experience to not only play some of the reserve players, but also some of the first team professional players. This wrapped up our once in a lifetime soccer experience in Costa Rica as we ended up with one win, two draws and one loss. It's been a cool opportunity for us to play well-known Costa Rican teams in their professional stadiums here. Our team is feeling optimistic about the lessons we learned from this trip, which we can use to better prepare ourselves for the fall season.
Blog of Saturday, May 20, by Zack Compton
Match Report from head coach Mathes Mennell - LiberiaÂ
First Half XI: Dakotah Bainter (GK), Trenton Klatte, Zack Compton, Hayden Poell, Kyle Adams, Frank Morales, Andrew Lawrence, Brandon Millington, Ben Chapal, Ryan Enriquez and Elvis Boateng Â
First Half Notes:
The Bulldogs started the game in what is becoming their trademark, a very aggressive attacking mindset. Again, this mentality yielded an early chance as Frank Morales put a nice shot on frame after being played in by Ben Chapal.
Liberia, however, was up for the challenge as they countered the Bulldogs with a fair amount of possession. The home side fielded an experienced side which featured a full side of reserve pros and three first team players. Their maturity showed as they scored in the 14th-minute as they were able to break down the right flank and scored on a cross that UNC Asheville was unable to clear. Â
They continued to apply pressure as they scored again in the 22nd-minute and then finished the first half with a third in the 42nd-minute. Â
Second Half XI: Dakotah Bainter (GK), Brendan O'Dowd, Carter Phillips, Hayden Poell, Dino Dziergas, Austin Howard, Joe LaCasto, Jackson Allen, Luke Manring, Richie Lee and Sam Holton
Second Half Notes: Liberia continued their dominant play as they absorbed the Bulldogs attempt to climb back in the game by pressing and were able to jump on an errant pass and make the score line 4-0.
However, despite the score line, the Bulldogs continued to attack and Joe LaCasto got one back as he finished a nifty pass from Luiz Felipe Dantas in the 62nd-minute. LaCasto then halved the lead in the 75th-minute as he converted a PK after a Liberia handball. The last ten minutes proved to be exciting as Ben Chapal had a chance go just wide in the 78th-minute and Ryan Enriquez hit the crossbar in the 81st-minute. The game ended with the Bulldogs in the ascendancy and causing lots of problems for the home side.
Head Coach Mathes Mennell offered the following thoughts after the match: "Today was challenging for our team, and we learned some great lessons. It was very hot and humid and we were certainly not sharp enough in our possession in the first half. This led to us really allowing Liberia to dictate the tempo and pace of the game. The second half we were better but had created too much of a hill to climb. Â
Overall, I am really pleased with the way we approached our football. We came down with an attacking mindset and for the majority we were able to play on the front foot. This trip is about so much more, however, and I could not be more pleased with the experiences we have had as a team. This trip has been everything I hoped for and more. Â
I am so thankful for the vision of UNC Asheville, Janet R. Cone, Terri Brne and the rest of the Team Behind the Team. Their commitment to providing a first-class student-athlete experience have made this trip possible. When you combine this with the hard work from our players and staff to fundraise and work towards this goal, well that is the part of this endeavor that makes me so proud to be associated with UNC Asheville men's soccer. We all know how special UNC Asheville is and this tour is another fantastic example of what #ThePursuitofGreatness means."
More From the UNC Asheville Men's Soccer Trip to Costa Rica
Day  Six Blog and PhotosÂ
Day Five Blog and Photos
Day Four Blog and Photos
Day Three Blog and Photos
Day Two Blog and Photos
Day One Blog and Photos
UNC Asheville Excited for "Once in a Lifetime Opportunity" (Story ahead of trip to Costa Rica)
We started off today with some extra time to sleep in after all of our previous busy days. This was our first morning at the beach, and waking up to the sights and sounds of sun and waves is always a great feeling. We enjoyed breakfast right by the ocean. The food has exceeded expectations for every meal this trip. Afterwards, the team came together for a meeting on the beach about the upcoming game against Liberia. We then rested until we had lunch, which was also right by the ocean. We then got on a bus for our drive to play Liberia. The heat was more intense today, and despite a good effort to come back in the second half, when the final whistle blew the result was a 4-2 loss. The team was the best we have played in Costa Rica. It was a good experience to not only play some of the reserve players, but also some of the first team professional players. This wrapped up our once in a lifetime soccer experience in Costa Rica as we ended up with one win, two draws and one loss. It's been a cool opportunity for us to play well-known Costa Rican teams in their professional stadiums here. Our team is feeling optimistic about the lessons we learned from this trip, which we can use to better prepare ourselves for the fall season.
Blog of Saturday, May 20, by Zack Compton
Match Report from head coach Mathes Mennell - LiberiaÂ
First Half XI: Dakotah Bainter (GK), Trenton Klatte, Zack Compton, Hayden Poell, Kyle Adams, Frank Morales, Andrew Lawrence, Brandon Millington, Ben Chapal, Ryan Enriquez and Elvis Boateng Â
First Half Notes:
The Bulldogs started the game in what is becoming their trademark, a very aggressive attacking mindset. Again, this mentality yielded an early chance as Frank Morales put a nice shot on frame after being played in by Ben Chapal.
Liberia, however, was up for the challenge as they countered the Bulldogs with a fair amount of possession. The home side fielded an experienced side which featured a full side of reserve pros and three first team players. Their maturity showed as they scored in the 14th-minute as they were able to break down the right flank and scored on a cross that UNC Asheville was unable to clear. Â
They continued to apply pressure as they scored again in the 22nd-minute and then finished the first half with a third in the 42nd-minute. Â
Second Half XI: Dakotah Bainter (GK), Brendan O'Dowd, Carter Phillips, Hayden Poell, Dino Dziergas, Austin Howard, Joe LaCasto, Jackson Allen, Luke Manring, Richie Lee and Sam Holton
Second Half Notes: Liberia continued their dominant play as they absorbed the Bulldogs attempt to climb back in the game by pressing and were able to jump on an errant pass and make the score line 4-0.
However, despite the score line, the Bulldogs continued to attack and Joe LaCasto got one back as he finished a nifty pass from Luiz Felipe Dantas in the 62nd-minute. LaCasto then halved the lead in the 75th-minute as he converted a PK after a Liberia handball. The last ten minutes proved to be exciting as Ben Chapal had a chance go just wide in the 78th-minute and Ryan Enriquez hit the crossbar in the 81st-minute. The game ended with the Bulldogs in the ascendancy and causing lots of problems for the home side.
Head Coach Mathes Mennell offered the following thoughts after the match: "Today was challenging for our team, and we learned some great lessons. It was very hot and humid and we were certainly not sharp enough in our possession in the first half. This led to us really allowing Liberia to dictate the tempo and pace of the game. The second half we were better but had created too much of a hill to climb. Â
Overall, I am really pleased with the way we approached our football. We came down with an attacking mindset and for the majority we were able to play on the front foot. This trip is about so much more, however, and I could not be more pleased with the experiences we have had as a team. This trip has been everything I hoped for and more. Â
I am so thankful for the vision of UNC Asheville, Janet R. Cone, Terri Brne and the rest of the Team Behind the Team. Their commitment to providing a first-class student-athlete experience have made this trip possible. When you combine this with the hard work from our players and staff to fundraise and work towards this goal, well that is the part of this endeavor that makes me so proud to be associated with UNC Asheville men's soccer. We all know how special UNC Asheville is and this tour is another fantastic example of what #ThePursuitofGreatness means."
More From the UNC Asheville Men's Soccer Trip to Costa Rica
Day  Six Blog and PhotosÂ
Day Five Blog and Photos
Day Four Blog and Photos
Day Three Blog and Photos
Day Two Blog and Photos
Day One Blog and Photos
UNC Asheville Excited for "Once in a Lifetime Opportunity" (Story ahead of trip to Costa Rica)
Players Mentioned
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