Sept. 30, 2008

Sept. 30 Men's Soccer Notebook

IRVING, Texas - No. 15 Tulsa downed then sixth-ranked SMU, 4-1, on Saturday night at the Westcott Field in Dallas, Texas. Ryan Mirsky put SMU on the board quickly as he punched in a header off a corner kick in the third minute, but Tulsa dominated the remaining 87 minutes, scoring four goals, two in each half. Justin Chavez tied up the contest, 1-1, at the 16:46 mark as he scored off a 12 yard kick. Jeovahnni Sandez would score the game-winning goal with just a little under four minutes remaining in the first half off a cross from Austin Neil from six yards out. In the second half, the Golden Hurricane’s Kyle Corrie scored from point-blank range, with Jose Parada picking up the assist, and Zach Nulisch would score off a long ball in the 88th minute for the fourth and final goal of the contest for TU.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JEOVAHNNI SANDEZ - Tulsa
So., F, San Diego, Calif.
Sandez scored the game-winning goal for Tulsa, in a 4-1 upset victory over No. 6 SMU last weekend. Sandez’s goal came in the 42nd minute, giving TU the 2-1 advantage heading into the break and the Golden Hurricane came out dominating the second half. Sandez attempted three shots, two of which were on goal, in the contest. He has two goals this season for four points. The weekly honor is the first of Sandez’s career.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DAN WILLIAMS - Kentucky
Jr., GK, Fairfax Station, Va.
Williams continued his career season with his second consecutive shutout a 110-minute scoreless tie with UNC-Asheville, extending his shutout streak to 224 minutes, dating back to a 86th minute-goal in UK’s 2-1 win over Michigan, last Wednesday. Williams made two diving, game-saving saves during the game with the Bulldogs, as well as clearing several dangerous balls inside the box to thwart potential scoring chances. Williams has posted three shutouts on the year and 10 in his career, allowing only six goals in UK’s eight games. Williams, a three-year starter and co-captain, has worked 742 minutes, saving 17 shots and posting an impressive 0.73 goals against average, facing 78 total shots. This is Williams’ third career weekly honor, his first in 2008.

SHOOTING STARS
- Freshman GK Jesse Fullerton had his best game as a Golden Panther as he recorded a shut out over Florida Gulf Coast. Fullerton’s performance preserved a 1-0 lead to give FIU its first victory of the season. The freshman keeper recorded seven saves. Defender Corey Kendall scored for just the second time in his FIU career for the lone Golden Panther goal.

- Ryan Roushandel, who moved to defender in recent games, led the Knights to a 3-1 win over North Florida last week. Roushandel tallied the games first two goals. He blasted a shot from 31 yards out midway through the first half for a 1-0 lead, and then cashed in a penalty kick with nine seconds left in the period. The penalty kick was set up by Roushandel great pass into the box from past midfield.

- Tulsa GK Tyrel Lacey helped TU post a 4-1 upset victory over sixth-ranked SMU this week, as he tallied five saves in the contest and gave up just one goal. Lacey faced two shots on goal by both Leone Cruz and Paulo da Silva. Lacey held da Silva, who has the second-most goals this season for all Conference USA players and ranks third among the league’s best in goals-per-game, scoreless.

- Tulsa forward Jeovahnni Sandez was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week for his efforts against SMU. Sandez scored the game-winning goal for Tulsa, in a 4-1 upset victory over No. 6 SMU last weekend. Sandez’s goal came in the 42nd minute, giving TU the 2-1 advantage heading into the break and the Golden Hurricane came out dominating the second half.

SCORELESS STREAK
Kentucky GK Dan Williams totaled two acrobatic match-saving saves as Kentucky utilized a strong defensive effort in a scoreless tie with the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs, on Saturday afternoon at Greenwood Stadium. Kentucky (4-2-2) has not allowed a goal in 224 minutes, its second consecutive scoreless tie, as the Wildcats tied Alabama A&M last Sunday. UK allowed a goal in a 2-1 win over Michigan last Wednesday in the 86th minute.

Offensively, Kentucky opened the season with a flurry of goals, totaling a school-record 11 goals in its first two games. UK senior forward Michael Strong leads the club in goals (5) and points (11), while Marco dos Santos (3 goals) and Taylor White (2 goals, 2 assists) check in second in points with six each. In goal, Williams has worked 742 minutes, allowing only six goals against for a 0.73 goals against average. With three shutouts on the season, Williams has now toiled 11 career shutouts in his three-year starting career. UK junior defender Barry Rice, a preseason All-American and member of the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Award Watch List, has totaled a goal and an assist, while winning 60-of-62 contested header attempts in seven of UK’s eight games this season.

UAB ALSO WINS C-USA OPENER
Sophomore MF Kevin Sawchak helped lead the UAB to a 2-0 victory over Memphis in its Conference USA opener Sept. 20. Sawchak scored his first career goal with a blast from 25 yards out just four minutes into the contest. His marker also was his first career game-winning goal.

Junior Wes Johnson played terrific in goal in the win. Johnson collected four saves en route to the victory. Not only did the victory mark his first shutout of the season, but he now has seven shutouts in his career, which moves him into sole posession of third place for career shutouts in program history. For the season, Johnson has an impressive .80 GAA and has made 14 saves in five starts.

The result marked the first time the Blazers opened conference play with a road victory since a 2-1 win at Marquette in the 2004 campaign.

GAMECOCKS SPLIT
South Carolina freshman MF David MacVane tallied two assists, including a helper on the game-winning tally, to lead the No. 23 Gamecocks to a 4-0 victory over Davidson College during weekend action. MacVane also tallied four shots in the contest, a season high. The Saratoga Springs, N.Y., native collected an assist on Carolina’s first and third goals of the match. The asissts marked MacVane’s second and third of the year.

USC sophomore GK Jimmy Maurer led the Gamecocks to a 1-1 record last week . Maurer has played every minute in net for the Gamecocks this season, while he ranks among Conference USA leaders with a 0.76 goals against average. Maurer collected his fifth shutout of the season against Davidson, matching his total from a year ago in just eight outings in 2008.