ANDERSON, S.C. - Unable to pick up wins in its last two matches, Anderson University men's soccer returns to the pitch on Wednesday as it heads to Peach Belt Conference opponent and nationally-ranked Young Harris for a nonconference matchup. Kickoff from the Peach State is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The Trojans
After falling to South Atlantic Conference rivals Queens, 2-1, and
Mars Hill, 1-0, last week, AU enters the midweek nonconference
match with a 3-4 overall record and an even 2-2 mark in league
play. The Trojans face their second two-match winless streak of the
season after beginning the year with back-to-back setbacks to
Rollins and Flagler in early September. Facing the setback streak,
Anderson looks to avoid its first three-match losing streak since
the 2012 season.
After finishing the 2013 season ranked third in the conference in goals scored, the Trojan offense has gotten off to a slow start in 2014, as they currently rank 12th in the league in goals scored with six. Junior forward Andre Carle, who was the lone Trojan with double figure goals a season ago, leads AU once again in the category with three goals on the year. Newcomer Magnus Larsen follows Carle with two goals, while sophomore Brad Du Plooy scored AU's first goal of the year at Rollins.
Defensively, the Trojans have recorded three shutouts on the year as sophomore goalkeeper Bo Haug has been between the posts in all of them. On the season, Haug has allowed six goals in six matches, which is currently tied for the conference lead in goals allowed. Haug's 0.96 goals-against average is also tied for the league lead, as it matches Lincoln Memorial's Marcel Barwanietz's mark.
The Mountain Lions
In last week's National Soccer Coaches Association of
America/Continental Tire Division II National Poll, Young Harris
was positioned ninth with the latest poll set to be released late
Tuesday. After being slotted in the top-10, YHC made the most of
last week, winning both its matches by a combined score of 6-0.
After blanking conference rival USC Aiken, 5-0, on Wednesday, the
Mountain Lions closed the week on Saturday with a narrow 1-0
victory over Flagler.
With the two triumphs, Young Harris improved to 6-0-1 on the year as it currently rides a six-match winning streak. For the season, the YHC offense has outscored its opponents 25-4 and outshot its counterparts 154-47. Attacker Ilija Ilic, who scored against the Trojans a season ago, leads the Mountain Lion offense with six goals on the season, while teammates Lewis Hilton and Khurram Shazad follow with four goals apiece.
In goal, Jordan Bradshaw has made five starts on the year and has recorded three clean sheets with a 4-0-1 record. Bradshaw's 0.57 goals against average is the best mark in the Peach Belt Conference, while his 10 saves on the year ranks him 11th.
The Series
Last season, Anderson claimed a 2-1 double-overtime win over then
nationally-ranked Young Harris as Mattias Schyberg knocked in a
game-winner in the 102nd minute of action. The win would eventually
lead to AU's unbeaten 6-0-1 nonconference record in 2013.
