ASHLAND, Va. – The Randolph-Macon men's soccer team saw three different players score following being down early in the first half to help carry them to their first conference victory of the season over Eastern Mennonite 3-2.
The Basics
Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Eastern Mennonite 2
Venue: Ashland, Va. / Randolph-Macon College / Nunnally Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (6-2-2, 1-1-1 ODAC); Eastern Mennonite (4-4-3, 0-2-1 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon started the game with four shots in the first ten minutes to keep Eastern Mennonite on their heels. The Royals defensive back line stayed tough and began to show improvements offensively.
- The Royals would indeed break through first with a goal by Hudson Acocella in the 14th minute to take the lead 1-0.
- The Lemon and Black needed a jolt of energy and would find it from Kevin Sprince (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) in the 22nd minute, as he headed in a Wiley Eubank (Raleigh, N.C./Broughton) corner kick to tie up the game at 1-1.
- Randolph-Macon was not done, as Davian Jackson (Newport News, Va./Menchville) found Grayson Woods (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) in the box and Woods finished past the Royals goalkeeper to give the Yellow Jackets a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute.
- In the final five minutes of the first half, Eubank drove down the field and skipped a ideal pass into the box that Elijah Caro (Asheville, N.C./Black Mountain) flicked past the Eastern Mennonite goalkeeper to increase the lead into halftime at 3-1.
- The Royals would not concede defeat easily in the second half, as Acocella found his teammate in Dimas Portillo that would score to bring the deficit to 3-2 in the 55th minute.
- In the final thirty minutes of the game, Randolph-Macon saw great play at the forward position from Chazz Jones (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) and Hawkins Adcock (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) to keep the ball away from the Royals. Damien Jackson (Newport News, Va./Menchville), Davian Jackson and Eubank all played impressive soccer on the outside to help defensively and create offensive chances. Randolph-Macon would end up getting out of the match with a 3-2 victory.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon had 25 shots in the game, compared to the 11 that Eastern Mennonite tallied. The Yellow Jackets put eight shots on frame to the Royals three in 90 minutes.
- The Yellow Jackets held the advantage in the corner opportunities with eight to the Royals five.
- Sprince, Woods and Caro all scored for Randolph-Macon in the game.
- Eubank accounted for two assists for the Yellow Jackets, as Davian Jackson was credited for the third.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon is back in action on the road to take on Lynchburg on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. for a conference matchup.
