The University of Redlands men’s soccer program got its 2011 campaign off to a hot start by shutting down the visiting Red Men of Carthage College (WI) during Thursday’s opening game at Farquhar Field.  Seniors Cody Carlson (Burbank, CA) and Jamie Griffin (Seattle, WA) each recorded five points as the Bulldogs posted four unanswered netters to score the most goals in a season opener since 2003.

The team’s top returning scorer, Griffin picked up right where he left off by finding the back of the net in the 12^th minute. Coming off of junior midfielder Gabe Ramirez’s (Pasadena, CA) corner kick, both senior defender Danny Day (Beaverton, OR) and sophomore forward Pat Roraff (Redlands, CA) assisted Griffin on the play.

At the 33:50-mark, Griffin recorded his second goal of the evening when he made the most of opportunity in front of the Red Men goal.  Carlson ripped off a shot from the middle of the box only to hit the post, where Griffin punched it in for the 2-0 lead.

Early in the second half, Redlands benefited from a man-up situation due to a Carthage red card, and Carlson took full advantage. The senior captain notched a pair of netters at 47:14 and 69:20, which included a nice chip over the Red Men goalkeeper’s right shoulder for the Bulldogs’ fourth and final score.

Sophomore goalkeeper Andreas Silva (San Jose, CA) shut down the Carthage attackers and tallied a complete-game shutout victory en route to making seven saves.

The Maroon and Gray backline also played well, holding Carthage to only five second-half shots.

Redlands (1-0-0) welcomes the Scarlett Raiders of Rutgers University –Newark (NJ) to Farquhar Field on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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