Falcons Continue to Roll with 4-0 Shutout

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo men's soccer team (2-0) continued its strong play early in the 2009 season with a 4-0 shutout victory over Concordia College-Selma (0-1). Junior Nathaniel Foster (Brampton, Ontario/Humberview Secondary School) scored two goals to lead the Falcons to victory and now has three goals on the season.

"I thought we looked sharper tonight," said head coach Ryan Pratt. "We are continuing to improve everyday and I think that showed in tonight's first half."

The Falcons struck early and often which allowed coach Pratt to give some younger players so much needed game-environment experience.

Newcomer Petar Triva (Split, Croatia/Second Language Gymnasium) was the first Falcon to strike the net as he received a cross from Alex Ghoja (Elkmont, Ala./Bob Jones) and buried it past the keeper. Sophomore Phil Jackson (Lincolnshire, England/Queen Elizabeth's) also picked up his third assist of the season on the play after feeding Ghoja with a long pass.

Five minutes later Foster scored the first of his two goals as Triva flicked a header past the defense off a long pass from sophomore Matt Maughn (Toronto, Ontario/St. Marcellinus) that freed Foster for a one-on-one with the keeper.

Just under ten minutes later Foster would score again as junior James Steer (Sheffield, England/Westfield School) fed Ghoja on the edge of the box who crossed it in for an easy tap-in by Foster.

The final goal of the night came off the foot of junior MilanPualic (Subotica, Serbia/Srednja Ekonosmka Skola School). The Concordia defense took down a Montevallo attacker in the box and was called for a penalty kick. Pualic stepped up and buried the kick in the back of the net.

Junior Robert Mueller (Kileen, Texas/Kileen) picked up the shutout victory in net improving his record to 2-0 on the season. He made five saves in the effort and a number of quick decisions on through-balls and crosses.

Freshman Arran McCarthy (Lancashire, England/Preston North End) substituted into the game in the second half and began firing as he led the team in shots with five. The Falcons overall out-shot CCS 17-14 but were much more accurate with a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal.

The Falcons return to Varsity Field this Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. as they host Eckerd College who lost 2-1 to Florida Memorial this past Friday.