FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist men's soccer team opened USA South play with a 4-0 victory against Averett at the Monarch Soccerplex on Friday evening.

With the win, the Monarchs improve to 3-3-1 on the season with a 1-0 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Cougars fall to 2-7 overall and move to 2-1 in conference action.

The game started with an early penalty kick by Tobias Andreasson that was stopped by goalkeeper Jonathan Moore who dove to his left to make the save. The scoring started in the 22nd minute when Tyler Ursuy received a cross from Trevor Hendricks and netted his second goal of the season. At the 28:25 mark, Seth Harrison scored his first goal of the season after striking a mishandled cross from Lawson Lamm, 2-0. MU posted one more goal in the first half when Zach Landry took the ball in the box and scored unassisted to increase the deficit, 3-0, at halftime.

In the second half, the reigning USA South Men's Soccer Player of the Week Fredrik Aalberg registered his fourth goal of the year from the top of the box with an assist from Seth Harrison, 4-0. The Monarchs had another scoring chance in the second half when a shot from Austin Lang was kicked away by a sliding defender. Seconds later, another shot hit the crossbar and was kicked away. MU recorded two corner kicks late in the half, but the final score held, 4-0.

Moore (3-1-1) earned the win after earning his second straight shutout and tallying three saves. Austin Bramhall (2-7) received the loss after registering six saves in nearly 80 minutes before Christian Hester entered and posted one save.

The Monarchs held a 23-5 advantage in shots and did not allow a shot in the second half. MU also held a 10-7 edge in corner kicks.

MU returns to action tomorrow, Sept. 24, as it faces Covenant at 2 pm.
 
 
 
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