MOUNT OLIVE – Visiting UNCP used a goal
by Stuart Rodgers in the 48th minute to forge a 2-0 lead, but
needed a stout defense to hold back a late surge by host Mount
Olive and key a 2-1 victory over the Trojans on Wednesday evening
at Amon Field.
The triumph helped UNCP (4-8-2) snap a two-game losing streak,
while also giving the Braves their second-straight victory in the
series with the Trojans (3-10-1). The setback marked the
third-straight loss for Mount Olive who fell to 5-16-1 all-time
against the Black and Gold.
Andrew Brown cashed in on his third goal of the season, while also
registering a team-best two shots on the night to pace the UNCP
offense, who also got an assist from fellow newcomer Braxton
Perkins. The Trojans' lone score on the night came from the
foot of Vieux Sarr, with Chris McClaugherty turning in a game-best
three shots. Ryan Hanson allowed the one goal in grabbing his
fourth victory between the pipes for the Braves, while MOC
netminder Shane Parman recorded a pair of saves in a losing
cause.
"We had a good performance tonight," said UNCP head
coach Phil Hindson. "The kids played well, especially on the
road. We probably could have scored a few more goals but, again, it
was a good win. Now we get ready for Queens this weekend and build
on the momentum."
Brown had his 10th minute scoring opportunity blocked by the Mount
Olive defense, but connected on his second attempt when he
collected a ricochet on a crossing attempt off a Mount Olive
defender and made a nifty move before firing a shot past Parman.
The 1-0 score would hold up heading into the halftime break.
Rodgers would give the Braves all the insurance they would need
coming out of the intermission when he one-timed a cross from
Perkins into the back of the net for the 2-0 advantage.
The score would set off a flurry of an offensive attack by the
hosts as Mount Olive tallied five of the game's next six
shots, including Sarr's 86th minute score. The Trojans would
find two more scoring attempts in the final 51 seconds of the
outing, but Alex Rodriguez's shot at the 89:09 mark sailed
just wide, and McClaugherty's strike with 12 seconds
remaining went high.
UNCP will be back in action again on Saturday when the Braves trek
to Charlotte to battle Queens (4-9) in a 7:30 p.m. matchup at the
Queens Sports Complex.
