Sept. 19, 2010

Box Score

Lexington, VA - The Adelphi men's soccer team traveled to Lexington, Virginia for a non-conference contest with the Virginia Military Academy. The Panthers notched the first goal of the game in just the 11th minute to take control, on the way to a 4-0 victory. With the win Adelphi improves to 4-2 overall, while VMI falls to 0-5-1.

The match opened up with several opportunities by both sides, as each team had three shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes of action.

The Panthers would notch the first goal of the match in the 11th minute, as Domencio Parrelli found Kris Nosworthy with a through ball on the right flank. Nosworthy then picked up his first assist of the day, sending a cross to John Koutsounadis who chipped a shot past VMI keeper Brian Sowell into the lower right corner of the net to give the Panthers the early 1-0 advantage.

VMI would have a pair of opportunities in the ensuing 20 minutes of action, as a promising Matt Seinfeld free-kick was blocked for a corner-kick. Off the corner, Kurt Zimmerman's header was blocked and cleared away by the Adelphi defense. Five minutes later, Amir Shihata had a shot on frame that was stopped by Adelphi keeper Thorne Holder, and a follow-up attempt by Brian Harding narrowly missed the inside part of the right side of the net.

Despite VMI's persistent offensive opportunities, Adelphi would notch another goal right before the half in the 43rd minute. Sam Vanaria sent a volley inside the six yard box that found of the foot of Steven Rivera, who would find the right corner of the net to give Adelphi the 2-0 lead right before the half.

VMI, who carried a 13-10 shot advantage heading into the intermission, almost cut the lead in half only three minutes after the second half began, as Ayao Sossou moved past a pair of Panther defenders, firing a shot from 20-yards out that was turned away, out of bounds by a sprawling Thorne in an outstanding effort.

The Sossou opportunity was countered by the Panther offense, who would add the third goal in the 49th minute on Nosworthy's second assist of the match, this time a cross from 40-yards out on the right side to Issa Tall, who sent a volley into the lower right portion of the goal the extend the Panther advantage to 3-0.

VMI again threatened to get on the board with 17 minutes remaining, as an offensive buildup resulted in shots by Sonny Landry, Zach Morgan, and Harding that all were blocked by the Panther defense.

Adelphi would then add an additional goal in the 84th minute as Vanaria added a tally to his assist from earlier in the game to bring the final score to 4-0.

Sowell made four saves in the loss, while Holder had eight stops for the Panthers and picked up his fourth shutout of the season.

Adelphi returns to action on Friday, September 24 when they travel to Princeton, New Jersey to take on the University of Pennsylvania in the first round of the Princeton tournament.