ANDERSON, S.C. - A pair of first-half goals and a stellar defensive effort lifted Anderson past visiting Francis Marion, 3-0, in non-conference men's soccer action Tuesday afternoon at Trojan Stadium.
Anderson (4-2), in the midst of a season-high four-match homestand, claimed its second consecutive win and has won four of its last five outings, while handing the Patriots their second consecutive setback and fourth shutout of the 2011 season. Francis Marion slipped to 1-6 on the season.
The Trojans pressed the tempo early, firing off three shots
inside the first 11 minutes, but Francis Marion rookie goalkeeper
Nick Lucido made diving stops on the first two, both off the foot
of AU senior Daniel Bowers and the other attempt from Mark Smith
was just high and ricocheted off the crossbar.
Anderson broke through in the 30th minute as senior forward Lasse
Sohrweide pounced on a ball that deflected off Lucido and his shot
from 10 yards out sailed just inside the near post and settled in
the back of the net, for his team-leading sixth goal of the
season.
Senior defender James Moseley added an insurance goal, his first score of the season, at the 35:51 mark to boost AU's advantage to two goals.
Newcomer Tapiwa Munetsi set the final score with his second goal of the season, which came in the 81st minute, as Sohrweide found Munetsi streaking down the middle of the pitch.
Anderson outshot FMU, 17-4, on the afternoon and held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Junior net-minder Lukas Hesse earned the win for AU, while collecting one save. Lucido absorbed the loss for the Patriots and garnered three saves.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 11-1 in the friendly confines of Trojan Stadium.
Anderson will be looking to extend its home win streak to 11 as the Trojans get back into South Atlantic Conference action on Saturday, as AU welcomes Carson-Newman to Trojan Stadium for a 3 p.m. kick-off.
