Offensive Attack Lifts Scots to Victory
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. -- The Covenant men's soccer team had to wait a while before playing its opening matching of the season, but the wait was certainly worth it.
Four different players scored a goal and the Scots had a 24-9 shot advantage as Covenant rolled past Tennessee Temple 4-0 on Friday night at Camp Jordan in East Ridge, Tenn. The match was delayed by almost an hour as referees had a difficult time making to the complex in time.
Covenant is 1-0 on the season, while Temple drops to 0-2.
After more than 40 minutes of scoreless play in the opening period, Garrison Dale put the Scots on the board with a successful penalty kick in the 41st minute. It was Dale's 11th career goal and gave Covenant a lead they would not relinquish.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Covenant would again capitalize on a penalty kick, but in a different way. Matt Hudnut took the kick but it was saved and deflected back towards the field of play by Temple keeper Josue Fernandez and then booted in by Hudson Brock to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute.
The Scots would continue to add to their lead in the 68th minute as Ian Meredith notched a goal after dribbling through the Temple defense before finding the upper left corner for the score. Gordon Carpenter, coming off a medical redshirt last season, showed his quickness in the 71st minute as he found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.
Covenant keeper Shuler Polk gets credit for the win as he made three saves on the night. Temple's Fernandez tallied nine.
The Scots had a 24-9 advantage in shots along with a 13-3 edge in shots on goal. Noah Wiersema led the Covenant attack with four attempted shots, three on goal.
Covenant will host Sewanee on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. at Scotland Yard. Before the match, the team will honor David Taaffe and fans will be given a t-shirt jersey with Taaffe's name and number on the back. Fans are encouraged to arrive early.
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