ANDERSON, S.C. - A patient offense led by freshman Andrew Martin's two goals and a stout defense lifted the 25th-ranked Anderson men's soccer team past Lees-McRae, 4-0, in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon night at Trojan Stadium.
Anderson (6-2) wrapped up its four-match homestand by earning its first win past Lees-McRae (4-3-1) since 2007. The former conference rivals had met five times in the past four seasons, with four of those five contests being decided in overtime, but that was not the case in their first-ever meeting at Trojan Stadium.
The Trojans claimed their fourth consecutive win and have won six of their last seven, while stretching their home win streak to 11 matches. AU has won 12 of 13 matches at Trojan Stadium and avenged a 2009 NCAA Tournament overtime loss to the Bobcats, suffered on LMC's home turf.
Senior Lasse Sohrweide, the reigning SAC Player of the Week, opened the scoring in the third minute on a penalty kick after the Lees-McRae goalkeeper received an early red card on a foul just in front of the Bobcats' net. Sohrweide has scored four goals in the last four matches, including three game-winners.
Lees-McRae sophomore James Galvani nearly scored the equalizer in the 17th minute but AU net-minder Lukas Hesse denied the score, recording one of his three saves on the afternoon by rushing at the oncoming Galvani, who had broken free.
AU freshman midfielder Andrew Martin gave the Trojans a two-score advantage at the 38:11 mark after teammate Tapiwa Munetsi pushed the action to the left of the LMC goal and got the ball into a crowd in front of the net, with Martin finding the back of the net from point-blank range.
Less than two minutes later, Trojan senior James Moseley notched his second goal of the season by pouncing on a deflected shot off the foot of teammate Rakeem Deshields and getting his attempt into the net.
Martin added his second score of the afternoon in the 87th minute, as the Wake Forest, N.C., native capitalized on teammate Shannon Burchall's blocked attempt and fired from 15 yards away.
The Anderson defense was stellar on the afternoon, recording its third clean sheet of the 2011 campaign, while limiting Lees-McRae to three shots.
The Trojans recorded 19 shots, including 10 on goal, and held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks. Junior keeper Lukas Hesse notched the win for the Trojans, while Tyler Gibson suffered the setback for the Bobcats.
Anderson will get back into South Atlantic Conference action Saturday, Oct. 1, when the Trojans visit Catawba College. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
