ANDERSON, S.C. - Looking to return to its winning ways, Anderson University men's soccer hits the road to Mars Hill on Saturday, Sept. 28 for a South Atlantic Conference matchup. Start time from Meares Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m.
The Trojans
After beginning the season 4-0 and off to its best start since
2009, AU has fallen victim to a couple overtime losses and a
scoreless draw, moving the Trojans to 4-2-1 overall and 1-2 in
conference play. Anderson has dropped its last two SAC matches,
both coming after the end of regulation, as Coker squeaked out a
2-1 double-overtime win and Queens grabbed a 3-2 overtime win in an
up-and-down tightly contested matchup.
Redshirt sophomore Andre Carle continues to the lead the team in goals with five, but just one of his goals has come in the last three matches. Carle is currently tied for fourth place with Queens' Felipe Netto in points with 11. With his goal against Queens, freshman Aaron Roberson has moved into a tie for the second most goals on the team with classmate Paul von Hinueber with three.
Defensively, redshirt sophomore Lars Zimmerman got in the goal column for the first time this season when Henrique Gazzi sent a free kick into the Queens box. Zimmerman, who led the team in goals last season, slipped a shot into the net to even the score at the 1-1 mark. The Malente, Germany native became the ninth different goal scorer for the Trojans this season.
The Lions
Mars Hill is coming off an impressive 1-0 road win over SAC foe
Lincoln Memorial, as senior Felipe Ferraro netted the game-winner
in the 40th minute of action. Ferraro became the seventh different
goal scorer on the team, while junior Alex Mullen leads the squad
with four goals on the year. The six other goal scorers each have
one goal apiece.
With their most recent victory, the Lions are now 2-4 on the year with both of their wins coming against conference opponents. MHU also tallied a road win over Newberry (2-1) two weekends ago. Despite the 2-4 overall mark, Mars Hill has played one of the toughest schedules within the region, as it has dropped to teams that are, or which have been, within the top 25 in Flagler, UNC Pembroke and Limestone.
Defensively, freshman goalkeeper Oliver Pannell has gotten the start in five of MHU's six matches. Pannell holds a 1-4 record with 17 saves on the season.
The Series
Since 2010, AU's first season in the SAC, the Trojans are 3-1-1
against Mars Hill. Anderson earned wins in the first two meetings
between the schools as conference rivals, but the streak was
snapped last season when the Lions defeated AU, 2-1. Later in 2012,
the teams met in the in the semifinals of the Food Lion SAC
Tournament as the Trojans eliminated Mars Hill in penalty
kicks.
