ANDERSON, S.C. - Looking to get back on the winning track, Anderson University men's soccer returns to its South Atlantic Conference slate on Saturday when it heads back home to square off against Tusculum. Kickoff from Trojan Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The Trojans
After two narrow one-goal setbacks, followed by a road loss to
nationally-ranked Young Harris on Wednesday, AU enters the weekend
on a three-match losing skid despite winning its last three prior
to the negative stretch. With the series of streaks, the Trojans
carry a 3-5 overall record into the weekend while holding an even
2-2 mark in conference action. With its six points in the SAC
standings, Anderson finds itself in a three-way tie for sixth
place, joining the league's newest members, Coker and Queens.
Despite scoring at least one goal in five of their last six contests, the Trojans are tied for 10th in the conference in goals scored. One of AU's leading goal scorers from a season ago, Aaron Roberson, added his name to the list of 2014 goal scorers as his first half goal against YHC gave Anderson a brief first half lead. Roberson joins Andre Carle, Magnus Larsen and Brad Du Plooy as AU's goal scorers on the year. Currently, Carle leads the group with three goals on the year.
Sophomore goalkeeper Bo Haug has started seven of Anderson's eight matches on the season and has posted 17 saves and holds a 1.38 goals against average. Haug currently is tied for the conference lead with his three clean sheets on the year.
The Pioneers
Settling for a 1-1 draw with in-state rival Carson-Newman on
Wednesday, Tusculum comes to Trojan Stadium with a 3-4-1 overall
record and a 1-2-1 conference mark. After posting two straight wins
in early September, the Pioneers have claimed a victory in just one
of their last five matches, including dropping three of their last
five.
For the season, the Pioneers have outshot their opponents 115-74, but have been outscored 11-10. Seven different TC players have scored this season as sophomore Jonathan Spicher leads the way with three goals and seven points. Spicher, who has started in five of Tusculum's eight contests, also leads the club in shots with 19 and shots on goal with 11.
Defensively, sophomore Ashley Elsey has started six matches and has made 16 saves while posting one clean sheet on the year. Classmate Jorge Alvarez has earned a start in two contests and enters the weekend with three saves for the season.
The Series
Since joining the SAC prior to the 2010 season, Anderson holds a
3-1 record against Tusculum, headlined by a 1-0 road victory a
season ago. Then-junior Mattias Schyberg tallied the eventual
game-winner in the 37th minute of action to propel the Trojans to
the conference triumph.
