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Herman's Two Goals Lead Blue Past Red in Blue/Red Classic
Men's soccer to face UMBC in exhibition Wednesday

Andrew Herman netted two goals to give the Blue squad a 2-1 victory in the Blue/Red Classic.

August 17, 2003 | Box Score

WASHINGTON -- Junior Andrew Herman scored two goals in six minutes to give his Blue squad the 2-1 victory over the Red team in the annual Blue/Red Classic. The veteran Blue team was able to hold off the younger Red team in the second half in the first action for the American men's soccer team this year.

"I was pleased," head coach Todd West, coach of the winning Blue team said. "It was a good competitive game."

West's Blue squad put the early pressure on the Red team but was unable to find the net. After the 10th minute, the Red team began to play with more confidence and began to hold its own. The Red squad had an excellent chance to strike first as freshman Garth Juckem came in alone, but junior Shawn Kuykendall was able to get back and clear the ball away.

Sean Albright and Nigel White battle for a ball at midfield.

After a good opportunity for the Blue squad in the 24th minute that was cleared away, the Blue team finally got on the board in the 31st minute. Junior John Fico found Kuykendall who made a one-touch pass to Herman. Herman fired a shot from the top of the box that found the net to give the Blue squad a 1-0 advantage.

Nearly six minutes later, Herman struck again as he gathered the ball in the box and scored in the right-center part of the goal to give Blue a 2-0 lead heading to halftime.

The Red team came out on the attack in the second half as junior Peter Philipakos passed to sophomore Brett Reeder who made a centering pass that was safely cleared by junior Nick Zaron. The Blue team had an excellent opportunity in the 18th minute as sophomore J.J. King passed to Kuykendall who made a nice feed to Fico. Fico carried the ball into the box, but Red goaltender Thomas Myers did a nice job of cutting off the angle, and Fico's shot hit the far post.

Sean Albright attempts to play the ball on goal after a corner kick in the first half.

After a goaltender change for both squads, the Blue team had another good chance at a goal. Kuykendall served the ball into the box and the ball was headed on net by Zaron. Sophomore Jeremy Smith was able to get a hand on the ball and tip it over the goal, diffusing another threat.

Shawn Kuykendall assisted on the Blue squad's first goal of the match.

After increasing pressure, the Red team finally broke through and got a goal with just over seven minutes remaining. After the Blue squad gave the ball away, Philipakos gathered the ball and shot it right-footed into the center of the goal to cut the deficit to one. However, the Red team would not get another good scoring chance and the Blue squad held on for the win.

"It was a good start for us," West said after the game. "Some guys really stepped up today."

Sophomore Jeff Rosenthal made two saves in the first half for the Blue team while Myers made two saves and Smith one for the Red team. The Blue squad outshot the Red, 12-8 and had four corner kicks compared to only one for the Red team.

After the match, losing coach Gary Kingsley said "This loss drops me to 1-1 in the Blue/Red Classic. We'll be back next year."

The exhibition season continues for the men's soccer team on Wednesday as AU faces UMBC at 4 p.m. on Reeves Field.