ANDERSON, S.C. - Snapping a brief two-match skid on Saturday with a 1-0 victory at Tusculum, Anderson University men's soccer jumps back into its nonconference schedule on Wednesday when it heads to nationally-ranked Young Harris. Kick-off from the YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The Trojans
With its third straight victory in Greeneville, Tenn. in the
all-time series against TC on Saturday, AU comes into the week with
an even 3-3-1 overall record with a 2-2 mark inside the South
Atlantic Conference. With the six points within the league, the
Trojans sit in a three-way tie for fifth place, joining
Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba. Entering the week, Anderson is one of
five teams from the SAC to have at least on goal in every match
this season.
Freshman Erik Dahlbeck provided AU's only goal on Saturday, as he took over sole possession of the team-lead with three goals. Dahlbeck has scored a goal in three of Anderson's last four contests, as he is currently tied with Andre Carle for the team-lead in shots with 15. Teammate Lars Kaula follows Dahlbeck with a pair of goals on the season, while six different Trojans have one goal to their credit.
Defensively, redshirt junior goalkeeper Devon Ashy made a pair of game-saving saves to preserve the clean sheet on Saturday. Ashy continues to lead the SAC in saves with 37, averaging just over five saves per match. The Greenville, S.C. native posted six saves against the Pioneers to claim his third shutout of the year.
The Mountain Lions
Last season, YHC closed the year with a 19-1-1 overall record and
advanced to the national quarterfinals before suffering its first
setback of the year to eventual national champion, Lynn, 4-1. This
season, Young Harris has captured victories in its last three
contests by a combined score of 10-3 and comes into Wednesday's
match with a 6-1 overall record and a perfect 3-0 mark within the
Peach Belt Conference. Last week, the Mountain Lions were ranked
No. 24 nationally by the NSCAA.
For the year, Young Harris has out-scored its opponents, 18-7, and has almost twice as many shots, totaling 116 compared to its opponents' mark of 48. Tom Joslin, who has started just one match this season, paces the Lions with five goals and 12 points, totaling just 13 shots. Joslin has scored in two of YHC's last three matches, headlined by a three-point performance in a 4-1 win against North Georgia.
In goal, Jordan Bradshaw has started in six matches and recorded 19 saves. Bradshaw's lone shutout came in a 3-0 win over previously ranked Saint Leo, where he faced seven shots and totaled three saves.
The Series
Anderson and Young Harris have met each of the last two seasons
with each team picking up a win. In 2013, the Trojans protecting
their home field with a 2-1 overtime win, while the Mountain Lions
bounced back with a 4-1 triumph in 2014. The matchup in 2013 marked
the first meeting since the 2010 season when AU claimed a
convincing 6-0 win.
