George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
AMERICAN
Men's Soccer Downs Eagles, 2-1
9/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 13, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington freshman defender Byron Walker scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 44th minute and the Colonials' men's soccer team held a potent American attack in check during the second half to come away with a 2-1 victory against the Eagles at Mount Vernon Athletics Complex on Wednesday.
The win marks GW's first versus American since a 2-0 triumph during the 1993 season. The Colonials were 0-6-1 in their previous seven matches against the Eagles, including last year's 1-1 tie in the DC College Cup.
Senior Joseph Siegel got GW on the scoreboard in the 19th minute with his first goal of the season. Sophomore David Leon sent a free-kick service from midfield into American's 18-yard box. Siegel calmly settled the ball in traffic and, after having his initial shot blocked, tucked his second attempt into the lower right corner of the net to give the Colonials an early lead.
American (3-4), which entered the contest tied for sixth in the Mid-Atlantic region, responded quickly netting the equalizer 6:03 later on Larry Mark's third goal of the season. Eagles' defender Philip Purdy carried the ball through the midfield and into GW's defensive third before dishing off to an open Mark just inside the box. Mark deposited a right-footed shot into the left corner to knot the score at 1-1.
Walker provided the heroics near the close of the first half after finding himself wide open in front of AU's net. Junior defender Matt Davis' long throw-in sailed over a crowd and directly to Walker, who collected the ball and knocked in a shot off the AU goalkeeper and a defender for the decisive tally.
"This is a big win for our young team," said head coach George Lidster. "American possessed the ball well and we were chasing them, which we somewhat expected, but we did what we wanted to and caught them on the counter. Jeremiah Burke and Matt Davis, the heart of our defense, played well and I was pleased to see Joe Siegel score. Thomas Stuber and Andrew Stadler also did well up front. It was a hard-fought win, we'll take it."
The Eagles desperately tried to even the match late in the second half, but the GW defense withstood the rally. In the 67th minute, the Colonials' well-placed defensive wall stopped Sal Caccavale's 20-yard, free-kick blast. With 1:24 remaining, Karsten Smith slid behind the GW defense on a cross-field service, but his shot finished outside the upper right corner of the goal. American's last-gasp effort came with 30 seconds left, but GW junior goalkeeper Greg Yahr swallowed Cooper Bryant's 12-yard header to clinch the victory.
GW (2-2-1) was out-shot, 20-14, and out-cornered, 9-1. Yahr stopped six shots, while AU's Chris Sedlak made two saves. A physical tilt from the start, the two teams combined for 10 yellow cards and 36 fouls.
The Colonials continue their four-match home-stand against George Mason on Saturday at 1:00 pm.
