Falcons Soar Past Eagles, 5-1

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo men's soccer team (1-0) flew past Faulkner University (1-1) in the Falcons season opener, 5-1. The Falcons had five different players score goals en route to a dominating victory. Juniors James Steer (Sheffield, England/Westfield School) and Nathaniel Foster (Brampton, Ontario/Humberview Secondary School) each had a goal and an assist to lead the team with three points each.

"I was pleased with the victory," said head coach Ryan Pratt. "There were a lot of things we could have done better but it is always nice to pick up a win."

The Falcons struck early in the first half to open up the scoring as Steer kicked in a cross from a streaking Foster who was fed the ball by junior Nathan Archard (Huntsville, Ala./Grissom) with just 4:55 ticked off the clock. The Eagles tied the game at one just 13 minutes later as they sent a free kick into the box that was headed off the post and in.

Ten minutes later junior Austin McIntosh (Sheffield, England/All Saint Catholic) capitalized off a hard strike from sophomore Phil Jackson (Lincolnshire, England/Queen Elizabeth's) which ricocheted off the keeper and to McIntosh's feet. He buried the goal to make it 2-1. With just over two minutes left in the half Steer repaid the assist Foster had given him in the early minutes as Steer sent a cross into the box that Foster pushed home for a 3-1 lead.

After halftime the Falcons scored just 58 seconds into the second half as Jackson sent a pass to junior Milan Pualic (Subotica, Serbia/Srednja Ekonosmka Skola School) who crossed it into the box and found junior Alex Ghoja (Elkmont, Ala./Bob Jones) who buried it into the back of the net.

The final goal of the night came off the head of sophomore Patrick Dean (Panama City, Fla.). He headed in a cross from senior Chris Stanfield (Prattville, Ala./Prattville) who was fed by sophomore Juan Lemos (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay).

Junior Robert Mueller (Kileen, Texas/Kileen) earned the victory in net as he made four saves and allowed just one goal.

The Falcons return to Varsity Field this Sunday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. as they host Concordia College-Selma.