University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Soccer Travels to Ga. Southern For Weekend Tourney
09.11.2014 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's soccer team hits the road for the first time this season when the Bulldogs travel to Georgia Southern to compete in the Springhill Suites Invitational on Friday and Sunday. Asheville faces Mercer on Friday at 5 p.m. and Georgia Southern on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Matt Kern's club is 1-1-1 on the season after a disappointing 1-0 loss to VMI last Friday. Asheville controlled much of the match but could not put a ball into the back of the net and lost for the first time in 2014. The Bulldogs were scheduled to play at home last Sunday against Jacksonville but heavy rains forced a postponement of that game.
Asheville will have its hands full in this weekend's tournament. Mercer is 2-2-0 on the year with wins over Georgia State and Georgia Southern. GSU has posted a 1-2 mark in 2014 with a win over Gardner-Webb and close losses to Mercer and Winthrop.
The Bears defeated the Bulldogs two years, 4-0 in Macon. Kern expects a tough game from Mercer.
"The guys are excited about competing in the tournament at Georgia Southern this upcoming weekend. We are familiar with both teams and look forward to the challenges that each match will provide,” stated Kern. "Mercer will be a big, athletic, direct, organized, and high pressing team. Our guys will need to be dialed in for 90 minutes both from open play and on all restarts.
Asheville lost a close 1-0 decision to the Eagles last year at Greenwood Field.
"Georgia Southern has several very special players that can change a game,” explained Kern. “The second match of a tournament is always difficult on the players from a physical standpoint, and I expect the game to have a variety of rhythms."
Sophomore forward Jackson Allen leads the Bulldogs in scoring with three goals. He tallied three in the first two games of the season. Senior goalkeeper Dan Jackson has played well in goal this season with a 1.55 goals-against-average. He has made 16 saves in three games.
After this weekend, Asheville has a break from playing for almost two weeks. The Bulldogs next match will be their Big South Conference opener at High Point on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
BULLDOG NOTES
Jackson Allen has three goals to lead Asheville in goals scored. Last year's leader had three goals for the entire season.
Paul Egle and freshman Victor Aguiar lead the Dogs in assists with two.
Asheville is still plagued by late goals. The Bulldogs lost seven one-goal contests last season on goals conceded late in the second half or in overtime. The Dogs have given up three late goals in their three games this year, costing them a win against USC Upstate, a shutout vs. Brevard and at least a tie vs. VMI.
The game with Mercer will be Asheville's second against a team from the Southern Conference this year. The Bulldogs game with Georgia Southern will be their only one against a team from the Sunbelt Conference. Asheville faced App State in an exhibition match earlier this year.
