The Friends University men’s soccer team rallied from an early deficit for a second straight game, but the Falcons once again came up short late as visiting Johnson & Wales won 2-1 inside Adair-Austin Stadium Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Friends (0-2) controlled early with just eight shots to three for the Wildcats, but it was Johnson & Wales (J&W) that would get the first goal, scoring on a header with 5:33 left before halftime on the only goal before the break.
- The Falcons came out more aggressive in the 2nd half, and scored just 3:33 into the period on a goal by Yannish Meanger (SR/Brisbane, Australia) to tie it up 1-1 as J&W failed to clear the ball.
- The Wildcats (2-2) answered back, scoring on another header in the 60th minute.
- A red card would put J&W a man down with 15:27 remaining and the Falcons had several opportunities to even up the score but couldn’t get one in the net as the game ended in a 2-1 defeat.
BY THE NUMBERS:
6 – Shots by Josh Garcia for Friends to lead all players. Garcia has 11 shots through the first two games after totaling just eight in eight games played in 2014
8 – Cards issued between the two teams in a scrappy contest. Five of the cards, including the only red, were issued to J&W. Seven of the cards came after halftime
23 – Shots for the Friends, compared to just eight for the Wildcats
34 – Fouls total in the match, 13 for J&W, 10 for the Falcons. After just 10 fouls in the first half, the teams combined for 23 in the second
NEXT UP:
Friends travels to Waxahachie, Texas to take on Southwest Assemblies of God on Thursday, September 10th. The match is scheduled to start at 4:00pm after the women’s game.
