Looking for its first win of the season, the Newberry College men’s soccer team turned in an admirable effort on both ends of the pitch to blank Erskine College, 2-0.
Erskine (0-1-1) gave Newberry a tough first half, with both teams recording five shots while looking in vain for a score.
After Ochoa’s goal, the Fleet began to test Newberry goalkeeper Joel Johnson (Sangre Grande, Trinidad & Tobago). Up to the challenge, Johnson fought off a chance from Erskine’s Patrick Brown before stopping a penalty kick from Jack Kimber in the game’s 80th minute. The save marks the second straight penalty kick stop for Johnson, who made a second-half save in the team’s recent season opener against Anderson.
The win moves Johnson to 1-1-0 on the season and gives the redshirt freshman his first career shutout and win. He made six saves in the match.
Johnson wasn’t the only member of the scarlet and gray to achieve career firsts in the match. Ochoa’s game winning score marks the first collegiate goal for the true freshman, a feat redshirt freshman Francisco Espinoza (Brenham, Texas) accomplished late in the second half to put Newberry ahead, 2-0.
Taking a pass from Ben Mottel (North Augusta, S.C.) in the 87th minute, Espinoza put a shot past Erskine goalkeeper Devon Braykovich to give Espinoza his first goal wearing a Newberry jersey. The score allowed Newberry some breathing room in the final few minutes to secure the shutout.
Newberry will continue its road swing on Tuesday, September 1 when the team visits Limestone College.