EMAIL THIS PAGE

AU Men's Soccer Tops UMBC in Exhibition, 3-0
Three different players score in Eagles' victory

John Fico netted AU's first goal against UMBC.

August 20, 2003 | Box Score

Gameday Central
UMBC	0
American	3
Box Score | Final
Goals:Fico (AU), Herman (AU), Caccavale (AU). Assists: Templeman (AU) 2, Kuykendall (AU), Philipakos (AU). Saves: Rosenthal (AU) 3, Myers (AU) 2; Shea (UMBC) 2, Marchica (UMBC) 1.

WASHINGTON -- The American University men's soccer team posted a 3-0 victory in its first exhibition match of the season over Maryland-Baltimore County behind goals from three different players. Juniors John Fico and Andrew Herman each scored as did freshman Salvatore Caccavale while sophomore Gordon Templeman had two assists. Junior Thomas Myers and sophomore Jeff Rosenthal combined for the shutout in goal.

"It's a good start," head coach Todd West said after the match. "The young guys are fitting in with the team very well."

Nick Zaron and the AU defense shutout UMBC.

AU and UMBC played three 30-minute periods in the exhibition match. Both teams were able to fire shots in the first two minutes of the game that the respective keepers saved. In the sixth minute, a corner kick by UMBC led to a header by Marcus Gross that went just high over the net. American began to control the play more and it led to a good opportunity in the 13th minute, but junior Peter Philipakos' shot was high. Another shot came for the Eagles in the 16th minute as Herman fed Fico, but his shot was blocked.

American finally broke through in the 23rd minute. After earning a corner kick, junior Shawn Kuykendall sent the ball towards the top of the box. Templeman shot the ball on net and Fico was able to deflect the ball into the goal, giving the Eagles a 1-0 advantage.

J.J. King battles with a UMBC player for the ball.

AU came out strong in the second period and controlled the play early. However, in the 34th minute, UMBC's Derek McElligott broke through alone and made a move towards the goal. Myers came off his mark and made a strong play to take the ball away and end the threat. The Eagles almost got their second goal of the match as Kuykendall sent a free kick into the box, but senior Brett Niebling's header went just wide.

In the 42nd minute, American finally got its second goal of the match as Templeman played a great ball ahead to Herman who carried the ball into the box and scored in the lower right corner. Just 1:20 later, Philipakos shot a blast from the top of the box that Caccavale deflected into the net, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

Garth Juckem and Nigel White almost connected on a goal in the third period.

The younger players played for AU in the third period of the match and played very well. The Eagles almost got another goal as freshman Garth Juckem sent a free kick into the box that classmate Nigel White headed on net. However, UMBC goalkeeper Corey Shea was able to tip the ball over the net to prevent the goal.

American outshot the Retrievers 13-9 in the match and had eight corner kicks compared to only two for UMBC.

The exhibition season concludes for the men's soccer team on Sunday as AU hosts Towson at noon on Reeves Field.