ASHLAND, Va. – The Randolph-Macon men's soccer team used two first half goals to help catapult them to another 2-0 shutout victory; this time over North Carolina Wesleyan at home Sunday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: Randolph-Macon 2, North Carolina Wesleyan 0
Location/Venue: Ashland, Va. / Randolph-Macon College / Grass Complex
Records: Randolph-Macon (2-0, 0-0 ODAC), North Carolina Wesleyan (0-2, 0-0 USA SOUTH)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon got the party started in the fourth minute, as Zach Richards (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) beat the Battling Bishop keeper for a goal.
- The Yellow Jackets doubled its lead on a set piece that was sent in by Damien Jackson (Newport News, Va./Menchville), the goalkeeper punched it out to Zach DeShazo (Henrico, Va./Mills E. Godwin). DeShazo collected the ball and passed it to Kevin Sprince (Richmond, Va./Deep Run), as the captain finished the heel flick goal for a 2-0 lead.
- North Carolina Wesleyan had their chances in the first half, booting multiple shots over the crossbar of the Yellow Jacket goal. The Randolph-Macon defensive line of Wiley Eubank (Raleigh, N.C./Broughton), Trevor Moyer (Hampton, Va./Kecoughton) and Sprince did a great job making each shot tough on the Battling Bishops forwards.
- In the second half, the Yellow Jackets were caught mostly in the defensive zone by multiple attacks by North Carolina Wesleyan. Defensive substitute Grant Counts (Odenton, Md./St. Marys (Annapolis)) played huge minutes on the back end to keep the Battling Bishops off balance.
- For the second straight match, the game would slow down in the final 45 minutes, but notable offensive substitutes of Chazz Jones (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) and Hawkins Adcock (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) were able to take the pressure off of the Randolph-Macon back line in parts of the second half. Jake Hall (Mount Airy, Ga./Tallulah Falls School) was a bright spot in the midfield for the Lemon and Black on both sides of the field in the starting group.
- Randolph-Macon would hold firm throughout the second half and would win their second straight match to begin the season 2-0.
Inside the Numbers
- North Carolina Wesleyan outshot the Yellow Jackets 21-to-12. Randolph-Macon put six shots on frame, compared to the nine the Battling Bishops put on target.
- Randolph-Macon had five corner opportunities, as North Carolina Wesleyan recorded six corner opportunities.
- Adam Braithwaite (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) recorded nine saves in goal for the Yellow Jackets, with his final save putting him fifth all-time in career saves.
- Richards and Sprince both recorded goals for Randolph-Macon.
- DeShazo would end the match with an assist on the Sprince goal.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will be back in action at home to take on Marymount (Va.) on Friday, September 7 at 7 p.m.
