Bulldogs Toppled by Big South Leader Campbell

ASHEVILLE – It was always going to be a tall task for UNC Asheville's men's soccer team against the team atop the Big South Conference standings.

Campbell entered Saturday's matchup against the Bulldogs as the only team in the conference averaging more than two goals per game and boasted the nation's leading goal-scorer in Thibaut Jacquel. The Camels struck early en route to a 7-1 victory, Saturday, at Greenwood Field.

Kickoff of the match had originally been scheduled for 6 p.m., but was moved up to 1 p.m. as heavy rains were in the forecast. The teams couldn't avoid the weather, though, as steady precipitation fell to the turf throughout the contest.

Less than a minute into the match, the Camels (12-2-1, 6-0 Big South) took a quick lead, as Frank Momo found Eren Elbustu with a nice cross into the box.

For about the next 30 minutes, the Bulldogs (3-9-1, 2-3 Big South) settled down defensively. Sophomore Izaiah Vignali had an opportunity to equalize a minute later, but his attempt drilled off the turf bounced just too far to the left.

It would be the only shot of the half for Asheville, while the Camels added three more goals in the final 18 minutes of the half. Though the Bulldogs kept Jacquel off the board, he did pick up his fourth assist of the season on the team's second goal.

The Bulldogs forced two corners in the first three minutes of the second half, including one the keeper pushed over the crossbar, but they weren't able to capitalize and the Camels would add two goals less than two minutes apart not long after.

In the 74th minute, sophomore Tanner Gilliam scored his first-career goal on a corner kick from Kyle Adams, who picked up his team-leading third assist of the season.

The Bulldogs recorded more chances in the second half with eight shot attempts, but were only able to get one other shot on goal.

"It was a completely dominating performance by Campbell," head coach Mathes Mennell said. "They're the best team in the Big South and they certainly showed it today. The hard part about it is if you aren't inch-perfect in what you're trying to do, Campbell will punish you for it.

"I don't know if we did a great job of putting our best foot forward. Full credit to Campbell: they've been fantastic all year."

Bulldogs Toppled by Big South Leader Campbell

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Team Stats

Tanner Gilliam

Kyle Adams

Noe Varner

Taylor Durall

Players Mentioned

Kyle Adams

Tanner Gilliam

Izaiah Vignali

Players Mentioned

Kyle Adams

Tanner Gilliam

Izaiah Vignali

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics