Senior Yannick Pilgrim and junior Mark Millard each scored twice as Davidson scored five unanswered goals, four coming in the second half, to take a 6-1 victory over Marist in the Wildcat men’s soccer team’s season opener Friday night at Alumni Stadium.
The match was the second of the Davidson adidas Classic. Appalachian State and Bowling Green played to a scoreless draw earlier in the evening.
Millard (Oak Ridge, N.C.) scored the game’s first goal 13:50 in, taking a pass from midfield and chipping it over challenging keeper Joe Pilla to give Davidson (1-0) and early lead. Marist (1-1) hung with the ‘Cats though, and equalized the match with a goal at the 30:06 mark. Krystian Witkowski dribbled around the top of the six-yard box and took advantage of a defensive miscue to blast a hard shot inside the right post.
Pilgrim (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago) was able to put the ‘Cats back on top just before intermission, scoring a goal that nearly mirrored Millard’s, tapping the ball in past a challenging Pilla.
Davidson took over in the second half. A cross from Millard deflected off Pilla and right to the foot of Pilgrim, who buried it for a 3-1 ‘Cats advantage. Millard extended the lead less than three minutes later when a cross attempt hit the post and bounced in for a goal.
Sophomore Peter Paras (Dublin, Ohio) notched his second career goal at 70:11, sending a laser into the top left corner of the net from 35 yards out. A cross from senior Peter Shelton (Cary, N.C.) deflected off a Marist defender for an own goal at 81:54 to cap the scoring.
Junior goalkeeper Chip Sanders (Thomasville, Ga.) made four saves to earn the win. Pilla made two saves as Davidson outshot Marist 19-11. Freshman Ben Gold made one save for Davidson in his first career appearance late in the match.
Davidson will return to action Sunday when they face Bowling Green at 1 p.m. Appalachian State and Marist will play immediately after to conclude the tournament.
Overall 22 Wildcats participated in the season opener, including eight newcomers.
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