The Ashland University men’s soccer team has finally broken past the wall holding the team back as they finally were able to place a “one” in the win column on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
Heading into the outing on Wednesday, the Eagles sat at an overall record of 0-4 through non-conference play and looked to bounce back with a win at home to kick off Great Midwest Athletic Conference action. Fortunately for the Eagles, they would do just that as they took down the undefeated Walsh Cavaliers, 2-0.
“It was crucial after we didn’t have the start that we wanted to the season. This win lifted up our moods and spirits,” said defender Francesco Chiappo.
In the first half of play, the two sides tussled back and forth as they looked to open up the contest with momentum. Through the first 10 minutes, the Cavaliers and Eagles battled at midfield in hopes of garnering early momentum, but neither were able to take the edge.
However, in the 17th minute, senior goalkeeper Zander Throckmorton would keep the game level for the Eagles as he made a phenomenal save. As the Eagles tried to play the ball back between themselves defensively, right-back Sergio Ruiz misplaced the ball leading to a fast break from Cavalier forward Callum Lee and Throckmorton came off his line to clear the ball away.
The Eagles, with excitement spewing from the crowd at Ferguson Field, rallied and built momentum off the save made by Throckmorton.
Just seven minutes later in the 24th minute, the Eagles found an opening and capitalized on it.
After a corner kick from Sam Jordan was sent barreling into the box, it caromed off the foot of Oliver Whaley and the head of Teddy Togliatti before finding the foot of defender Joao Cardoso.
Cardoso recognized the position he was in was unfavorable and turned, bicycle kicking the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal. With the score the Eagles opened up the contest with a 1-0 lead.
The two sides would continue to battle throughout the first half and into the second half.
To begin the second half, the Cavaliers were in need of a goal to level the contest and the tension began to show. Forward Lewis Matton would commit a foul, picking up the first yellow card of the second half just 10 minutes in.
After the first one, more fouls would be called and a total of nine would be committed by the Cavaliers alone. As the contest continued to roll on, five more yellow cards would be given out to the Cavaliers as the aggression in hopes of finding a goal translated into ill disciplined play.
In the 81st minute, substitution help from Pedro Faria would propel the Eagles forward.
With the ball just outside the box, Faria would blast a ball into the top left corner of the goal, giving the goalkeeper no chance to make the save. The Eagles, with a 2-0 lead, would finish out the contest with confidence and poise as they found the first win of their season.
The Eagles improved their record to 1-4 on the season and 1-0 in conference play, while giving the Cavaliers their first loss of the season, pushing them to 2-1-1 and 0-1 in conference play.
The win for the Eagles also ended a 20-year winless streak against the Cavaliers, dating back to the 2003 season.
Next up for the Eagles is the Malone Pioneers on Saturday, Sept. 16 with kickoff set for 3 p.m. on the road in Canton, Ohio.
“We go game by game and try to not think too far ahead,” said Chiappo. “The next game we approach just as seriously as the previous one and keeping a winning mentality.”
