Davidson Freshmen Extend Unbeaten Streak with 4-2 Victory over Coastal Carolina

Saturday, October 20

Davidson, N.C.

4:00

Davidson College Athletics

3-10-1

Coastal Carolina

5-6-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Coastal Carolina	1	1	2
Davidson	1	3	4

Davidson Freshmen Extend Unbeaten Streak with 4-2 Victory over Coastal Carolina

10/20/2007 5:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Joey Beeler -- Assistant SID

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Behind three freshmen goals and two assists, Davidson ran its unbeaten streak to three consecutive with a 4-2 victory over Coastal Carolina Saturday at Alumni Stadium. With the triumph, the Wildcats improve to 3-10-1 overall, while the Chanticleers fall to 5-6-1.

“The freshmen were clearly our most important players today,” commented Davidson head coach Matt Spear. “Both in the goal-scoring department and also Matt McElroy making his first career start in goal. He made a couple critical saves in the second half to keep our defense tight and them off the board.”

Alex Caskey, who just missed putting the Wildcats on the board in the first minute, capitalized on his next opportunity, a blast from 25 yards out, to give his club an early 1-0 advantage. Fellow freshman Mauricio Simms set up Caskey's second career strike with a centering pass from the left side.

Shortly after Davidson's sixth minute score, the Chanticleers' Robert Holstein evened the match at a goal each; with a chip shot from the right side off a Kevin Van Den Berg feed.

The Wildcats threatened again at the 24:27 mark in the opening period, but Coastal Carolina's Matt Smith made a diving save on Machel Turner's shot from point blank range, to keep the game deadlocked.

Despite Davidson controlling a majority of the possession in the first half, both teams attempted three shots prior to the break.

Early in the second stanza, the Wildcats had another great chance to retake the lead, but Charlie Reiter's free kick from just outside the box sailed high of frame.

Just after checking into the contest, freshman Peter Shelton gave the lead back to Davidson when he one touched a cross from co-captain Cameron Griffin into the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.

After Shelton's strike, the Wildcats quickly put the game away with goals from forward's Turner and Yannick Pilgrim in the 76th and 80th minutes, respectively, to put the match out of reach.

Pilgrim's goal, which was also his first in a Wildcat uniform, came on a breakaway where he chipped a shot to the back post. Reiter, who had his three-game goal streak end today, found the streaking Pilgrim for his fourth career assist.

“The game was won during that 15-20 minute stretch in the second half where we were able to connect on passes and then feed off those with some great scoring chances in the final third.”

Holstein added his second goal of the affair and the game's final with 3:17 remaining off a pass from Djamel Bekka.

Both clubs finished with 12 shots, but Coastal Carolina held a 9-3 margin in corner kicks. Making his first career start, the Wildcats' Matt McElroy led both keepers with six saves, while Matt Smith turned away four between the pipes for CCU.

This afternoon's win was the Wildcats' first at Alumni Stadium since defeating Loyola on the final day of the Davidson adidas Classic Sept. 3, 2006.

Davidson will continue its five-game homestand with a 1 p.m. contest against SoCon foe Wofford Saturday, Oct. 27. The Chanticleers return to action Tuesday at 7 p.m. when they host top-ranked Wake Forest.

“The guys are excited and have been building some confidence over the last couple weeks. We certainly don't think we are peaking right now and know we have more and better soccer ahead of us. We need to keep improving and accelerating forward to come closer to our potential and goal.”