ANDERSON, S.C. - Three second-half goals, headlined by Lars Kaula's 82nd-minute tally from the penalty spot, handed Anderson University men's soccer its second straight victory, as the Trojans knocked off Newberry, 3-2, in South Atlantic Conference action on Thursday.
With the victory, AU (5-4-1, 4-2 SAC) moves above the .500 mark for the first time since Sept. 16, as it remains unbeaten against its in-state rivals since joining the SAC in 2010, improving to 6-0 in the span. With the setback, the Wolves suffer their fourth straight loss by one goal and fall to 1-9 overall and 0-6 in conference play.
The Trojan offense shined all afternoon, totaling a season-high 30 shots which outshined their previous season high of 18. Senior forward Andre Carle led the charge with nine shots, while teammates Hodaka Yonezawa and Erik Dahlbeck followed with five shots apiece. Within its season-high total, Anderson put nine shots on goal, including its three goals.
Despite the impressive offensive numbers, the Black and Gold faced a halftime deficit when Newberry's Bennett Murphy found the ball at his feet after a long throw-in from Sterling Wendt. Murphy stood at the far post and knocked in a shot to AU goalkeeper Devon Ashy's short side, giving the Wolves the one-goal lead in the seventh minute of play. For Murphy, the goal was his first of the season.
The goal would lead the match into the halftime break, as the Wolves held a halftime lead for the first time this season. Despite the narrow advantage, Newberry was out-shot by the home side, 16-3.
In the 53rd minute, Newberry extended its lead when Lucas Ferreira flicked a pass to a streaking Cammy Provan. With the ball at his feet, Provan beat Ashy who was coming out from his box for his first goal of the season, pushing the score to 2-0.
With the clock ticking away on the Trojans, AU bounced back in the 56th minute when Kaula provided a long throw-in along the far side. The ball was flicked into the Newberry box by Alex Betancur and Brad Du Plooy until it found its way to the feet of Carle. Carle sent a one-timer to the far post and brought Anderson within one with his fourth goal of the season.
Moments later in the 75th minute, Yonezawa provided AU's equalizer when Carle sent a hooking cross into the Newberry box. Yonezawa came into the danger zone unmarked and headed in his first goal of the season to even the score at 2-2.
With the momentum on the Black and Gold's side, Anderson was awarded a penalty kick following a Newberry foul inside its own box. With the match on the line, Kaula stepped up and rocketed in his fourth penalty-kick goal of the season and gave the Trojans their first lead of the contest.
With time running out, Newberry tried to find its own equalizer in the final minutes, but a last-second corner kick went astray as the final horn sounded.
In goal, Ashy needed just one save to record the goalkeeper's fifth victory of the season, while his counterpart, Brad Dixon, totaled six saves.
Anderson returns to action on Saturday when it hits the road to Lenoir-Rhyne for a SAC clash. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
