BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat men's soccer team lost a close-knit showdown in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play Wednesday night, falling to St. Andrews University, 1-0.
Neither team could break the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes, but both teams did create a dangerous chance.
In the 19
th minute, Thiago Mendes had an opportunity after a giveaway by the Cavs back line. His shot from just outside the box had "goal" written all over it, but a leaping fingertip save from
Jesus Ramos kept the match scoreless. Then, in the 40
th minute,
Hugo Rodriguez had a breakaway down the left-hand side. Rodriguez's shot went begging when the reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Week, goalkeeper Alessandro Benedetti, made a clutch save.
The rain started to fall just before halftime, and it proved to have an impact on the night's match. In the 52
nd minute, St. Andrews played a pass down the right-hand side of the pitch. Mendes was waiting as he took the pass past a sliding Montreat defender. With plenty of space and time, Mendes dribbled toward the box and sent in a cross. Jesus Sonara made a run toward the far post, got onto the end of the cross to drive the header home for the match's lone goal.
Montreat created a few opportunities down the stretch, perhaps none more dangerous than in the waning moments of the contest.
Carlos Hernandez looped a last-ditch effort into the box where
Juan De Los Rios awaited. His header in the final seconds of the match looked goalward, that is, until Benedetti dove to his right and parried away the shot.
As the clock struck zero, that out-stretched fingertip save preserved a 1-0 victory and a fourth-consecutive shutout for the Knights.
"Tonight was a tough loss," said head coach
Michael Bruce. "We are going to work hard to bounce back against Bryan on Saturday."
With the 1-0 loss, the Cavs fell to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the AAC. St. Andrews improved to 3-1-1 overall and 2-0 in AAC play.
Montreat heads back on the road this weekend, Sept. 18, for a conference matchup at Bryan College.
