Saturday, September 18
Boiling Springs, N.C.
5:00 p.m.
Davidson College
1
at
0
Gardner-Webb
Senior co-captain Alex Caskey
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Davidson Defeats Gardner-Webb On Caskey's OT Winner
9/18/2010 8:46:25 PM | Men's Soccer
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Senior midfielder Alex Caskey scored the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute to give Davidson men's soccer a 1-0, overtime-win over Gardner-Webb Friday evening at Greene-Harbison Field.
Caskey (Dunwoody, Ga.) fired the winning shot from the left, outside the 18-yard box just off the end line. Despite traffic in front of the net, the ball found its way through, past the goalkeeper and into the right side of the net.
“Sometimes you win games early and sometimes you win games late,” said Davidson head coach Matt Spear. “You never know when that moment is going to come, and it came in the 92nd minute for us tonight. It was a critical play by a critical player.
“Alex again demonstrated that he is a premier player that can raise his level of play to win close games like these.”
With the win, Davidson improves to 3-1-2, while Gardner-Webb falls to 2-4.
A strong defensive effort kept the Wildcats in position to win. Junior goalkeeper Chip Sanders (Thomasville, Ga.) earned his second shutout of the season, making four saves, while the 'Cats defensive unit yielded just eight shots. Sanders recorded a save off a Gardner-Webb corner kick in the final seconds of regulation. The Runnin' Bulldogs also had a penalty kick attempt in the 84th minute that they were unable to convert.
“Earning our second shut out of the season is huge for us,” said Spear. “Chip Sanders was excellent and made some crucial saves. We played a bend-but-not-break defense, and anytime you can do that on the road, it is an accomplishment. I am very proud of the entire defensive unit's performance.”
Davidson had opportunities to take the lead in the first half. A one-on-one opportunity for junior forward Mark Millard (Oak Ridge, N.C.) went just wide left in the 10th minute. In the 40th minute, a shot by freshman Jake Keator (Jacksonville, Fla.) was blocked and junior Garrett Bostwick (Cary, N.C.) put the rebound on goal, but Gardner-Webb defenders were there to make the save. Sophomore midfielder Brian McGue led Davidson with three shots, two on goal.
Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Adam Garcia made three saves, while Davidson held an 11-8 advantage in shots.
“We were not great tonight, but we were able to get the result we wanted,“ said Spear. “The experience of winning on the road in an overtime situation will help us as the season progresses.”
After going 1-1-1 in their last three games on the road, which included two against top-25 teams UC Santa Barbara and UCLA, Davidson will return to Alumni Stadium for a Tuesday night match against Atlantic Coast Conference power Virginia Tech. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
"For Tuesday, we will need a great performance and the support of our 12th man - the Davidson student body and our fans. After three games straight on the road, the team is craving the excitement of a home match."
Notes: This was the first meeting between the Davidson and Gardner-Webb men's soccer teams … Caskey is now tied with Millard for the team lead in scoring with three goals and an assist.
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