ANDERSON, S.C. - Following a come-from-behind victory over in-state rival Newberry on Thursday, Anderson University men's soccer sees a short turnaround when it travels to Lenoir-Rhyne for a South Atlantic Conference matchup on Saturday. Kick-off from Bears Field is slated for 7 p.m.
The Trojans
AU has recorded identical 3-2 SAC wins in its last two matches,
knocking off Carson-Newman last Saturday and Newberry in a rare
Thursday match. With the winning streak, the Trojans are 5-4-1 on
the season with a 4-2 mark in conference play and are even with
Carson-Newman in the conference standings for second place. Wingate
continues to lead the SAC with a perfect 6-0 conference record.
Senior Andre Carle and junior Lars Kaula provided goals against Newberry on Thursday, as they continue to lead the Trojans in goals scored this season with four apiece. Carle has now scored goals in AU's last two matches, while all of Kaula's goals have come from the penalty spot this season. As a team, the Black and Gold ranks fourth in the SAC in goals scored (17) and third in shots on goal percentage (.461).
Defensively, goalkeeper Devon Ashy has played in every minute for the Trojans and continues to lead the SAC with 48 saves on the year. Ashy needed just one save to guide AU to its 3-2 win over Newberry on Thursday.
The Bears
Lenoir-Rhyne has won two of its last three matches, capped off by a
3-0 blanking of Mars Hill on Wednesday. Overall, the Bears carry a
6-3-1 overall record with a 3-2 mark in the conference. L-R holds
nine points in the conference standings in sit alone in seventh
place, three points ahead of a three-way tie with Catawba, Queens
and Coker.
Sophomore forward Ismael Noumansana leads the team in goals scored with five despite not scoring since a 3-2 setback against Lincoln Memorial on Sept. 26. Noumansana has totaled 27 shots and 13 shots on goal, as he totaled a match-high six shots in L-R's 3-0 shutout on Wednesday. Teammate Raffaele Di Puorto follows with three goals on the year, despite playing in just seven matches.
In goal, sophomore Zach King and freshman Benjamin Lundt have shared time as Lenoir-Rhyne's goalkeeper, as King is responsible for four of the team's wins this season. King has recorded 23 saves and boasts a 1.64 goals-against average.
The Series
Since 2010, Anderson carries a 4-2-2 record against Lenoir-Rhyne,
but finished 0-1-1 against the Bears a season ago. L-R eliminated
the Trojans from the postseason in last season's SAC Tournament in
Hickory, as the Bears advanced to the semifinals on penalty kicks,
4-3. The Black and Gold seeks their first win over Lenoir-Rhyne
since 2012 (2-0).
