FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist men's soccer team opened its 2023 season on Saturday evening with a non-conference match against Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte location. It was not the start the Monarchs were looking for, on their home pitch of Duggins Soccer Stadium, as they lost 6-0 to the Wildcats.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Johnson & Wales (N.C.) def. Methodist, 6-0
Records: Methodist 0-1-0; Johnson & Wales 1-0-1
Location: Duggins Soccer Stadium; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- From start to finish, Johnson & Wales controlled the momentum of the match.
- Lucas Lesh got the Wildcats on the board first, which proved to be the decisive goal of the contest, in the tenth minute.
- Lesh would also be in the mix of the next two Johnson & Wales goals. First, he assisted on an Andrew Fanelli score before finding the back of the net again to give the Wildcats a 3-0 advantage at halftime.
- Methodist situation did not get better in the second half. An early goal made it 4-0 before two more late scores brought us to our final score.
NUMBERS
- The duo of Lesh and Fanelli produced majority of Johnson & Wales offense. Lesh finished with two goals and one assist while Fanelli tallied one score and two assists.
- The Wildcats outshot the Monarchs 20 to seven, including 14 to three in shots on goal.
- Both Casey Atwell and Matthew Manzano had the team-high in shots with two apiece and one being on net.
- Sharing duties between the pipes were Matthew Walker and Chris Ranck for Methodist. Before being subbed out, Walker matched his career-high in saves (5), while Ranck registered three saves (new career-high).
NEXT UP
Methodist will have to put this game behind and get ready for another home game on Sunday, September 3rd. The Monarchs welcome Randolph College to Duggins Soccer Stadium for a non-conference game beginning at 6 p.m.
