Wednesday, September 20
Davidson
7:00 pm
Davidson College
vs
Charlotte
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Fifteen Years In the Making: 'Cats Meet 49ers on Wednesday Night
9/19/2023 5:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Davidson Wildcats (4-0-1, 1-0 Atlantic 10)
Head Coach: Mike Babst (Boston College, 1999)
Career Record: 112-53-22 (11th season), Davidson Record: 25-30-10
Charlotte 49ers (2-1-1, 1-0 American Conference)
Head Coach: Kevin Langan (Foreign College, 2004)
Career Record: 125-53-30 (12 seasons), Charlotte Record: Same
HISTORY
Last Meeting: L, 5-1 (8/29/08)
All-Time Series: 10-18-6
GAME INFORMATION
Date | Time: September 20, 2023 | 7:00 p.m.
Location: Davidson, NC
Site: Alumni Stadium
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: www.davidsonwildcats.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – For the first time since 2008, the Davidson College men's soccer team will face cross-town rival, UNC Charlotte, tomorrow night at 7 p.m. inside Alumni Stadium.
Once a highly charged rivalry dating back to 1973, the 'Cats and 49ers will square off for the first time in 15 years. In the last meeting, Charlotte routed the Wildcats 5-1 in the regular season opener despite Davidson notching the first goal. The 49ers roared back and scored five straight with two goals in the first half and three more in the final 45 minutes.
Fast forward to this year's matchup, Davidson is off to their best start since 2017 behind three straight wins, a tie against Virginia Tech, and a win over Presbyterian in their first full regular season game back in August.
The strength of Mike Babst's group so far has been on defense. Davidson ranks third in NCAA Division I in three defensive categories: team goals against average (.200), shutout percentage (.800), and save percentage (.929). Guiding the experienced back line has been goalkeeper Lou Liedtka. The senior from Pennsylvania is tied for third in the country in shutouts with four already this season, and he also ranks third and fourth nationally in goals against average (3rd, .200) and save percentage (4th, .923).
Davidson's back line consisting of seniors Trey Gardiner, Eamon Moylan, and Nicholas Cavallo are a key reason why the 'Cats rank so highly in defensive categories. The Davidson defense has the size, speed, and smarts to squander attacks from opponents.
Gardiner, a senior from Richmond, Va. has yet to leave the pitch at any point this season and is tied for the team-lead with Liedtka in minutes played. The six-foot-eight center back utilizes his size to clear away opponent corner set pieces and thwart opposing offensive attacks in the box. Moylan and Cavallo are athletic defenders who apply constant ball pressure at the left and right back position, but they have also been key in causing turnovers and turning those turnovers into offensive chances. Davidson's defense has allowed 41 total shots with just 14 of those being sent on goal.
On offense, Davidson's three main threats continue to be Denis Krioutchenkov, Vincent Bennage, and Alonzo Clarke. Krioutchenkov scored the game-winner against UNCG last week on a penalty kick goal in the 60th minute, and Clarke recorded two assists in the team's first conference win of the year over George Mason this past Saturday.
As defenses start to key in on Davidson's top threats, other players will be freed up for opportunities. That was the storyline in Davidson's last game where new faces got into the scoring column. Senior midfielder Maddux Reece and freshman Noah Louzan each netted scores in the win over the Patriots.
One other thing to note about the 'Cats offensive relentlessness is that they lead the country in corner kicks per game with an average of 8.40 per contest.
About the 49ers
Last season, Charlotte was Division I's highest-scoring offense. The 49ers averaged just under three goals a game, led the country in assists per game (3.50), points per game (9.38), and ended the year with a 9-5-2 record.
This season, the 49ers come to Alumni Stadium with a 2-1-1 record coming off a 3-0 rout of UAB this past Sunday having outshot their opponents 43-27.
The 49ers have had six different players score led by Brigham Larson who has two goals. Brandon Morales also has a goal to go with a team-high two assists on the year.
In net, two different keepers have gotten the starting nod for Charlotte this season. Sebastian Cutler-DeJesus has two starts, a 1-0-1 record, and two goals allowed on 10 shots faced. Leonard Stritter has a 1-1 record with one save on 17 shots faced.
Up Next
Davidson will return to conference play at home this Saturday when George Washington comes to town for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
Head Coach: Mike Babst (Boston College, 1999)
Career Record: 112-53-22 (11th season), Davidson Record: 25-30-10
Charlotte 49ers (2-1-1, 1-0 American Conference)
Head Coach: Kevin Langan (Foreign College, 2004)
Career Record: 125-53-30 (12 seasons), Charlotte Record: Same
HISTORY
Last Meeting: L, 5-1 (8/29/08)
All-Time Series: 10-18-6
GAME INFORMATION
Date | Time: September 20, 2023 | 7:00 p.m.
Location: Davidson, NC
Site: Alumni Stadium
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: www.davidsonwildcats.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – For the first time since 2008, the Davidson College men's soccer team will face cross-town rival, UNC Charlotte, tomorrow night at 7 p.m. inside Alumni Stadium.
Once a highly charged rivalry dating back to 1973, the 'Cats and 49ers will square off for the first time in 15 years. In the last meeting, Charlotte routed the Wildcats 5-1 in the regular season opener despite Davidson notching the first goal. The 49ers roared back and scored five straight with two goals in the first half and three more in the final 45 minutes.
Fast forward to this year's matchup, Davidson is off to their best start since 2017 behind three straight wins, a tie against Virginia Tech, and a win over Presbyterian in their first full regular season game back in August.
The strength of Mike Babst's group so far has been on defense. Davidson ranks third in NCAA Division I in three defensive categories: team goals against average (.200), shutout percentage (.800), and save percentage (.929). Guiding the experienced back line has been goalkeeper Lou Liedtka. The senior from Pennsylvania is tied for third in the country in shutouts with four already this season, and he also ranks third and fourth nationally in goals against average (3rd, .200) and save percentage (4th, .923).
Davidson's back line consisting of seniors Trey Gardiner, Eamon Moylan, and Nicholas Cavallo are a key reason why the 'Cats rank so highly in defensive categories. The Davidson defense has the size, speed, and smarts to squander attacks from opponents.
Gardiner, a senior from Richmond, Va. has yet to leave the pitch at any point this season and is tied for the team-lead with Liedtka in minutes played. The six-foot-eight center back utilizes his size to clear away opponent corner set pieces and thwart opposing offensive attacks in the box. Moylan and Cavallo are athletic defenders who apply constant ball pressure at the left and right back position, but they have also been key in causing turnovers and turning those turnovers into offensive chances. Davidson's defense has allowed 41 total shots with just 14 of those being sent on goal.
On offense, Davidson's three main threats continue to be Denis Krioutchenkov, Vincent Bennage, and Alonzo Clarke. Krioutchenkov scored the game-winner against UNCG last week on a penalty kick goal in the 60th minute, and Clarke recorded two assists in the team's first conference win of the year over George Mason this past Saturday.
As defenses start to key in on Davidson's top threats, other players will be freed up for opportunities. That was the storyline in Davidson's last game where new faces got into the scoring column. Senior midfielder Maddux Reece and freshman Noah Louzan each netted scores in the win over the Patriots.
One other thing to note about the 'Cats offensive relentlessness is that they lead the country in corner kicks per game with an average of 8.40 per contest.
About the 49ers
Last season, Charlotte was Division I's highest-scoring offense. The 49ers averaged just under three goals a game, led the country in assists per game (3.50), points per game (9.38), and ended the year with a 9-5-2 record.
This season, the 49ers come to Alumni Stadium with a 2-1-1 record coming off a 3-0 rout of UAB this past Sunday having outshot their opponents 43-27.
The 49ers have had six different players score led by Brigham Larson who has two goals. Brandon Morales also has a goal to go with a team-high two assists on the year.
In net, two different keepers have gotten the starting nod for Charlotte this season. Sebastian Cutler-DeJesus has two starts, a 1-0-1 record, and two goals allowed on 10 shots faced. Leonard Stritter has a 1-1 record with one save on 17 shots faced.
Up Next
Davidson will return to conference play at home this Saturday when George Washington comes to town for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
Players Mentioned
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MF
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