NEWBERRY, S.C. – Jostling for their final position in the league table, the Anderson University men's soccer team (7-5-3, 5-3-3 SAC) turned in a 2-1 win over Newberry in the final regular season match-up on the road on Wednesday, November 1.
"One of the keys tests for any team is how well they respond to a setback," said head coach Michael Zion. "Saturday was a small setback, at least emotionally, so the team needed to bounce back against Newberry, and they did! Now we are going into the playoffs with some momentum and are ready to go!"
The Trojans two goals came from a pair of seniors in Eloy Allimadi (Heidelberg, Germany) and Steven Udy (Clover, S.C.). Udy's goal allowed Anderson to enter the halftime break at level pegging while Allimadi's turned out to be the game-winner. Sophomores James Deadwyler (Traveler's Rest, S.C.) and Juan Jose Alvarez (Santiago, Chile) were each able to tally an assist on the evening. Sophomore Franco Antoniolli Funes (Cordoba, Argentina) was only called upon twice in the match, making one save to record the win.
Though the Trojans were able to get the first shot off of the contest, Newberry was able to record the first goal on the contest, capitalizing on a foul by the Trojans in the 26th minute. Anderson recorded three more shots in the contest before finally finding pay dirt in the back of the net when Deadwyler was able to find Udy who put it home to tie the contest at one heading into the halftime break.
Defensive adjustments for both squads were clear in the second half as only four shots were taken in the first fifteen minutes of the second stanza. However, it was that fourth shot of the half that proved to be the difference maker on the night as Allimadi was able to sneak a shot past the Newberry keeper, with some assistance from Alvarez to make the score line 2-1 for the good. The contest got a little chippy as the yellow card was shown from the referee's pocket multiple times in the late goings.
Antoniolli Funes was able to record his lone save of the night at a pivotal time in the 73rd minute as a rebounded ball off the post was redirected back on goal, but he was able to corral control and keep the Trojans lead intact. A late send-off for Newberry stymied their comeback attempt in the final minutes as the Trojans were able to wrap up the 2-1 victory.
The Trojans now turn their attention to the SAC Quarterfinals where they will make the trip to Harrogate, Tenn. to take on Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, November 4. Kick-off time was unavailable at the time of publication but will be in the early afternoon due to the absence of lights at Lincoln Memorial's soccer complex.
