FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA. – The Erskine College men's soccer team (1-10-1, 1-4-1 CC) picked up its first win of the fall 2021 season with a 2-0 road win over Emmanuel College (1-8, 1-6 CC) thanks to late goals from
Justin Pena and
Dennis Cole.
THE ESSENTIALSÂ
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THE SERIES
Erskine has won of four of the last five over the Lions and leads the all-time series 5-3-1.
THE MATCH
Despite being a scoreless first half, the opening 45 minutes were not without entertainment. Emmanuel peppered the Fleet goal with 16 shots but four saves from
Gabriel Matos kept the hosts off the board. Matos, making his first start of the season, also had to deal with six Emmanuel corner kicks, and his good work was equalled by the Lions' goalkeeper who made four first-half saves of his own. The Fleet defense shored things up in what was an evenly played second half, and the Fleet attack, which lacked a finishing touch for the first 80 minutes, eventually found a breakthrough. In the 84th minute,
Ivan Ivastanin set up
Justin Pena for his first goal of the season to give Erskine a 1-0 lead late. And less than minute later, it was Ivastanin pulling the strings again, this time finding senior
Dennis Cole who slotted home a goal and sealed a 2-0 road victory for the Fleet.
THE PLAYER
In his first career appearance, Erskine goalkeeper
Gabriel Matos made nine saves and led the way in the Fleet's first clean sheet and win of the 2021 season.
THE TEAM
Emmanuel outshot Erskine 26 to 17 and both sides had nine shots on target.
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WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet continue conference play on the road on Saturday afternoon at Barton College (6-3, 5-1 CC) at 11:00 a.m. Erskine leads the all-time series 10-5-1, and came from behind to beat the Bulldogs 2-1 in the last meeting Wilson back in October 2019.
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