Coach Rich Wall Interview
Senior Gus Pederson Interview
BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Jacob Copeland continued his magical senior campaign with the match-winning goal with less than four minutes remaining while the Lees-McRae men's soccer squad blanked North Greenville, 1-0, in Conference Carolinas action Wednesday evening at Tate Field in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Bobcats (8-6, 5-3 CC) are riding a four-match win streak, matching the same streak from the 2014 season. The Crusaders (2-10, 0-7) remain winless in conference play while only producing five shots on the night.
LMC is 11-4 in its last 15 contests played in the month of October over the last two seasons.
The Bobcats haven't allowed a goal in the last 189:56 minutes of action.
Playing in its fourth match in eight days, LMC shook off tired legs and amassed eight shots in each half.
Freshman Pol Vassart (Arnhem, France) continued to impress when he forced NGU keeper Mateo Barzola to make a save at the 6:25 mark in the first.
Sophomore Thomas Deeley (Timaru, New Zealand) cranked out three of his match-high six shots in a 12-minute span towards the end of the opening half.
Deeley had a sliding shot dink the post, but bounce away from action in the 70th minute.
Moments later, LMC found the back of the net, but was whistled for offsides.
Senior Gus Pederson (Sarasota, Fla.) made one of his two saves off the foot of Joe Severs at the 78:07 mark.
Copeland (Raleigh, N.C.) provided the home crowd with heroics after corralling a Nathan Watt (Newcastle, United Kingdom) pass at the top of the box. Barzola misjudged the play, allowing Copeland to score into an open net with less than four minutes remaining in regulation.
Copeland has three match-winners this season, all coming in conference play.
Pederson improves to 3-3 on the season and all three of his wins have resulted in shutouts.
Coach Rich Wall's squad returns to action Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. when it travels to King (Tenn.) in Bristol, Tenn.
- LMC -
