University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Soccer Home Twice This Weekend
09.04.2014 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's soccer team returns to Greenwood Field this weekend for two matches as the Bulldogs host VMI Friday at 3 p.m. and entertains Jacksonville Sunday at 1 p.m. Admission is $5.
Both matches can be seen for free on the Big South Digital Network under the multimedia tag at uncabulldogs.com.
Asheville is off to a 1-0-1 start to the 2014 season after tying USC Upstate last Friday, 3-3 and then slipping past Brevard on Sunday, 2-1. Sophomore forward Jackson Allen has scored three goals for the Bulldogs in the first two matches.
On Friday, Asheville welcomes former Big South rival VMI to Greenwood Field. The Keydets were a real nemesis for the Bulldogs in their days as a league member as they've won four straight matches against Asheville. All four Keydet wins were by one goal. VMI is 0-2-0 on the young season with losses to Big South foes Longwood and Liberty.
Jacksonville has a 1-1 overall record on the season and plays at Davidson on Friday. The Dolphins knocked off Florida Atlantic, 2-0 last weekend after falling 3-2 to NJIT. Sunday's match will be just the second meeting between the programs with JU taking a 1-0 overtime victory back in 1988.
Bulldog coach Matt Kern believes the matches this weekend will be big challenges for the Blue & White.
“The matches this weekend versus VMI and Jacksonville will really test our growth as a group over the last few weeks,” declared Kern. “We are starting to improve with our possession, but desire to be more effective penetrating in the final third at speed. Our collective defending is getting more organized but is still a work in progress.”
After this weekend, Asheville will take to the road for the first time when the Bulldogs head to Georgia Southern for the Eagle Invitational. Kern's club faces Mercer on Friday (Sept. 12) and Georgia Southern (Sept. 14) on Sunday.
BULLDOG NOTES
Jackson Allen leads the Bulldogs in scoring with three goals after two matches. Last year's leader in goals for the entire season had three.
The Bulldogs are looking to be unbeaten after three matches for the first time since the 1984 season.
VMI will be one of two Southern Conference teams Asheville plays this year. The other is Mercer next Friday. Jacksonville is one of three Atlantic Sun Conference clubs the Dogs play in 2014. Asheville opened the season with USC Upstate and will play at Northern Kentucky on Oct. 22.
Asheville has five goals after two matches this year. It took the Blue & White four matches to score five goals in 2013.
Senior goalkeeper Dan Jackson made his 200th career save against Brevard. He has 201 career saves and is seventh all-time in career saves at Asheville.
