University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
East Tennessee State
Hagedorn?s Goal Lifts Bulldogs Past Bucs
09.29.2009 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Jake Hagedorn scored in the 59th minute off an assist by Connor Holzinger to push UNC Asheville to a 1-0 victory over East Tennessee State on Tuesday afternoon at Greenwood Field.
Hagedorn's goal was his second of the season and his first game-winner. The goal was set up on a corner kick taken by David Wood. Wood's kick went to Holzinger at the top of the 18-yard box who gave a quick pass to Hagedorn six yards from goal for his second assist of the year. Hagedorn's right-footed shot slipped between the near-post and the goal keeper for the only tally of the match.
Lassi Hurskainen made four saves facing 14 shots to keep his first clean sheet of the season. UNC Asheville improved to 4-5-1 with the victory while East Tennessee State dropped to 1-4-2. UNC Asheville notched its third victory in the last four matches.
Both teams produced a number of quality scoring opportunities. The Bulldogs had two near misses in the first half. Freshman David Parra fooled the ETSU keeper with a shot in the early going, but the ball sailed just over the top of the net. Then, towards the end of the first half, Bryan Bartels collected a pass from Bryan George at the top of the box, but his shot just missed wide left. The Buccaneers had several scoring opportunities of their own, but goalkeeper Hurskainen was able to keep them at bay. Both teams headed into intermission without a goal.
Asheville came out on the offensive in the second half, keeping the ball deep in ETSU territory and producing a number of corner kicks until finally, in the 59th minute, the Bulldogs took the lead. The Buccaneers responded to the goal with an offensive surge of their own, bombarding Hurskainen with a flurry of shots in the final 15 minutes. The game also grew increasingly physical during this stretch, with UNC Asheville's Jake Sides and ETSU's Guilherme Reis each receiving a booking in the match's waning minutes.
UNC Asheville will be back in action at Greenwood Field on Saturday for their Big South Conference opener. The Bulldogs will take on High Point (4-3-0) at 2 p.m. The match will be video streamed live on the Big South Network.
