ANDERSON, S.C. — The No. 16 Anderson University (5-0-2, 2-0-1 SAC) men's soccer team defeated Carson-Newman (2-2-2, 1-1-1 SAC) by a score of 3-2 on Saturday at Spero Financial Field.
Adrian Castillo scored off
Luis Munoz's assist in the 83rd minute to break a 2-2 tie.
Munoz scored once, added two assists, and led the Trojans with five shots, including three on goal. Munoz recorded a season-high two assists during the match. Castillo scored the game-winning goal and put both of his shots on frame. Will Thompson scored on his lone shot attempt, marking his first goal of the season.
Unai Bernal made six saves over 90 minutes, recording three in each half.
The Trojans reached the final seconds of the first half still even after creating chances and absorbing sustained Eagles pressure, but Antoine Torrent scored in the 45th minute off an assist from Rayane Sid ahmed to put the visitors ahead 1-0 at halftime. Earlier, AU pushed forward in the opening minutes with a Munoz shot saved in the 6th minute and back-to-back corner kicks in the 6th and 8th minutes. The home side created another stretch of pressure midway through the half, getting a
Kenta Yagi shot saved, a
Jace Hicks attempt, another saved effort from Munoz, and a
Kaiden Smith shot off the left woodwork between the 17th and 20th minutes. Bernal helped keep the match scoreless with saves in the 15th, 22nd, and 41st minutes, while the Black and Gold also withstood eight C-N shots and corners from the 29th to 41st minute before the late goal.
AU erased a two-goal second-half deficit and moved in front in the 83rd minute, when Castillo scored off a Munoz assist to make it 3-2. Earlier, the Trojans generated pressure with Castillo's shot on goal, two corner kicks, and two Munoz shots before C-N scored in the 57th minute for a 2-0 lead. Munoz answered in the 63rd minute from
Jonas Zethofer, and Will Thompson finished a Munoz assist less than three minutes later to tie the match at 2-2. The Black and Gold then held through an Eagles stretch that included multiple shots and corner kicks, with Bernal making saves in the 72nd and 90th minutes. The second half ended with AU ahead 3-2, closing out the comeback win.
Up next, the Trojans host North Greenville on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. in Anderson, S.C.
