University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Sunday, April 11
Asheville, N.C.
2:30 p.m.
UNC Asheville
3-4-1, 3-4-1
4
vs
0
Gardner-Webb
5-6-0, 3-5-0
1
2
F
Gardner-Webb
0
0
0
UNC Asheville
2
2
4
Men’s soccer downs Gardner-Webb, advance to Big South Semifinal
04.11.2021 | Men's Soccer
Daughtry, Long each score two in win
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Entering Sunday needing a victory to secure a berth in the upcoming Big South Tournament, the UNC Asheville men's soccer team defeated Gardner-Webb 4-0 to extend its season and give the Bulldogs their first Big South Semifinal appearance since 2008.
The win, which improved Asheville's record to 3-4-1 (all Big South matches), granted the Bulldogs their first appearance in the Big South Tournament since 2016. Asheville got two goals from Colin Daughtry and two from Gavin Long while Leon Musial picked up eight saves and an assist in the victory. The Bulldogs will travel to High Point on Wednesday with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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"So proud of our guys," said head coach Mick Giordano. "Just like every team we had to battle adversity. It was win today and you get in so it really felt like a quarterfinal game to us. Couldn't give our guys enough credit."
Notable Numbers
It looked like Gardner-Webb would get on the board first, but Musial was locked in early, cutting down crosses and forcing shots wide to keep the score 0-0. In the 19th minute, Miles Peay played a ball across to Daughtry who lasered a shot into the top of the net. In the 40th, Peay and Mason Cookus would feed Long who buried a shot to double the lead.
With Gardner-Webb looking to pull one back, Musial bombed a punt that Nate Evans flicked to Long who quickly made the score 3-0.
"Leon was unbelievable today," Giordano said of Musial. "We've been looking for a clean sheet all year because he's deserved it. Just so happy for him because he's deserved a clean sheet all year."
The Bulldogs were able to fend off Gardner-Webb chances, and in the 88th, Daughtry used a pair of moves to create space and find the net for the second time of the day as Asheville claimed the 4-0 win.
"The players and staff have earned this, and wanted it," said Giordano. "The only way to win the Big South is to get yourself in the tournament. Our guys had a big chip on our shoulder all year. Being picked preseason ninth we just went to work. As a head coach I couldn't be more proud."
Big South Championship
Wednesday, April 14 – Semifinals (ESPN+ - campus sites)
No. 3 USC Upstate at No. 2 Campbell, 6:00pm
No. 4 UNC Asheville at No. 1 High Point, 7:00pm
Saturday, April 17 – Championship (ESPN+ - at highest remaining seed)
TBD at TBD, TBA).
The win, which improved Asheville's record to 3-4-1 (all Big South matches), granted the Bulldogs their first appearance in the Big South Tournament since 2016. Asheville got two goals from Colin Daughtry and two from Gavin Long while Leon Musial picked up eight saves and an assist in the victory. The Bulldogs will travel to High Point on Wednesday with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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You know the drill #keepclimbing pic.twitter.com/nA7Zqjz807
— UNC Asheville Men's Soccer (@UNCAvlMSoccer) April 11, 2021
"So proud of our guys," said head coach Mick Giordano. "Just like every team we had to battle adversity. It was win today and you get in so it really felt like a quarterfinal game to us. Couldn't give our guys enough credit."
Notable Numbers
- Asheville clinches Big South Semifinal berth for first time since 2008
- Bulldogs make first Big South Tournament appearance since 2016
- Daughtry, Long each score two
- Musial totals eight saves in first shutout of career
- Peay adds two more assists
It looked like Gardner-Webb would get on the board first, but Musial was locked in early, cutting down crosses and forcing shots wide to keep the score 0-0. In the 19th minute, Miles Peay played a ball across to Daughtry who lasered a shot into the top of the net. In the 40th, Peay and Mason Cookus would feed Long who buried a shot to double the lead.
With Gardner-Webb looking to pull one back, Musial bombed a punt that Nate Evans flicked to Long who quickly made the score 3-0.
"Leon was unbelievable today," Giordano said of Musial. "We've been looking for a clean sheet all year because he's deserved it. Just so happy for him because he's deserved a clean sheet all year."
The Bulldogs were able to fend off Gardner-Webb chances, and in the 88th, Daughtry used a pair of moves to create space and find the net for the second time of the day as Asheville claimed the 4-0 win.
"The players and staff have earned this, and wanted it," said Giordano. "The only way to win the Big South is to get yourself in the tournament. Our guys had a big chip on our shoulder all year. Being picked preseason ninth we just went to work. As a head coach I couldn't be more proud."
Big South Championship
Wednesday, April 14 – Semifinals (ESPN+ - campus sites)
No. 3 USC Upstate at No. 2 Campbell, 6:00pm
No. 4 UNC Asheville at No. 1 High Point, 7:00pm
Saturday, April 17 – Championship (ESPN+ - at highest remaining seed)
TBD at TBD, TBA).
Team Stats
GWU
AVL
Goals
0
4
Shots
18
14
Shots on Goal
8
9
Saves
5
8
Corners
4
0
Fouls
10
12
Scoring Plays
Colin Daughtry (3)
Assisted By: Miles Peay
GOAL by AVL Daughtry, Colin Assist by Peay, Miles.
18:07
Gavin Long (2)
Assisted By: Miles Peay , Mason Cookus
GOAL by AVL Long, Gavin Assist by Peay, Miles and Cookus, Mason.
39:34
Gavin Long (2)
Assisted By: Leon Musial , Nate Evans
GOAL by AVL Long, Gavin Assist by Musial, Leon and Evans, Nate.
48:53
Colin Daughtry (3)
Assisted By: Liam O'Dowd
GOAL by AVL Daughtry, Colin Assist by O'Dowd, Liam.
87:14
Game Leaders
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
fwd
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F/M
/ Men's SoccerM/F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
W/F
/ Men's SoccerHighlights || Men's Soccer || #2 UNC Asheville at #1 High Point (Big South Championship)
Monday, November 13
Highlights || Men's Soccer || #2 UNC Asheville vs #3 Winthrop (Big South Championship Semifinal)
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Men's Soccer || UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Men's Soccer || UNC Asheville at Winthrop
Monday, October 30