Davidson Drops 2-1 Overtime Decision to Georgia Southern in Home Finale

Saturday, November 1

Davidson, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

4-13-1, 2-5-0SoCon

Georgia Southern

6-8-0, 3-3-0SoCon

Team	1	2	OT 2	Final F
Georgia Southern	1	0	1	2
Davidson	1	0	0	1

Davidson Drops 2-1 Overtime Decision to Georgia Southern in Home Finale

11/1/2008 3:55:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Matt Harris - Assistant SID

DAVIDSON, N.C. - In their regular-season finale, the Davidson men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking loss when Georgia Southern scored the game-winning goal with 47 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over the Wildcats Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

After the two teams battled through over 99 minutes of back-and-forth action, GSU's Sean Sandoval was able to get a shot off from just outside the six-yard box that found the back of the net for the game-winner, coming at the 99:13 mark of the first overtime.

“Losing in overtime is difficult on the players,” Davidson head coach Matt Spear said. “Georgia Southern played a very smart, effective game. This was a quality SoCon battle, with chances on both ends, shots hitting the post, and both teams playing hard.”

Davidson fell behind, 1-0, in the 24th minute of the first half via a goal by Georgia Southern's Austin Steele that was set up by a long throw-in that found its way into the penalty box where Steele connected on a header into the right side of the goal.

Despite finding themselves in a one-goal deflect, the Wildcats kept battling, as they have throughout the season, and scored the equalizer just under five minutes later. Junior Charlie Reiter, who has been on an offensive tear in the past few matches, dropped a curving through pass over the Georgia Southern (6-8-0, 3-3-0 SoCon)?defense right on the feet of freshman Kyle Engle. Engle collected the pass, and maneuvered past the remaining defenders to set up a point-blank shot on the Eagle goalkeeper, which he fired into the far side of the net for his first career goal. The assist was Reiter's first of the season, and gives him five points overall, fourth-highest on the team.

“It was a great goal by Kyle,” said Spear. “He was very composed throughout, and made a classic striker finish after a great run.”

Reiter had a game-high six shot attempts to go along with his assist, which is tied for the most by a Davidson player this season. In addition to his scoring chances, Reiter also set up one of the 'Cats best offensive opportunities of the day, when with 7:12 remaining in the first half, he sent a free kick from the left side of the penalty box across the goal mouth, where the ball just snuck wide of the net and past the feet of the Davidson (4-13-1, 2-5-0 SoCon) attackers.

Playing in his final home match as a Wildcat, senior Cameron Griffin almost recorded his first goal of the year at the 31:51 mark of the second frame, tipping a shot off a free kick that went across the goal and grazed the outside of the goalpost and out of bounds.

Facing the prospect of overtime, the 'Cats stepped up the attack in the final five minutes of regulation, which was capped off by three back-to-back-to-back scoring chances that had the crowd on the edge of their seats as each attempt came within inches of sending Davidson home with a win.

Sophomore Alex Caskey had three shots on the match, with classmate Yannick Pilgrim also recording a trio of chances, two of which were on goal. Junior goalkeeper Robby Goldsberry was between the pipes for all 99:13 of action, making four saves on the day to add to his season total of 64, second-highest in the SoCon.

Davidson out-shot Georgia Southern for the match by a 20-15 advantage, with both squads taking a pair of shots in the overtime period. After neither team took a corner kick in the first half, the 'Cats had two corners in the second, and GSU?taking one.

Prior to the match, the Wildcats honored their three senior players - Griffin, Whitey Bolan, and Juan Duque, who have all had a lasting impression on the program during their four years in the red and black. The trio was a part of the 2005 SoCon Regular Season Champion Davidson team, but their impact goes beyond their play on the field.

“These three seniors have taught me a lot,” said Spear. “They have inspired a lot of people, including me, and have been warriors for us. They live and breathe the pride of this program.”