Darren Amoo set a stadium record with four goals, helping to lift the Liberty Flames past the Southern Virginia Knights, 7-0, in a non-conference men's soccer match on Senior Night at Osborne Stadium, Friday.
Amoo netted all four of his goals during the first 29 minutes of the game, erasing the Osborne Stadium (Liberty Soccer Field) record of three tallies in a game, achieved 10 different players since 1992. Amoo was also the last player to reach the previous mark on the Flames' home field, scoring three times in a 3-1 victory over Bluefield on August 28, 2008.
After diving saves on two shots by senior midfielder Thad Taylor by Knight goalkeeper Richard Crist, Amoo started on his way to a new stadium record in the 16th minute. Taylor pushed a pass into open space on the left side of the 18-yard box for the forward, who ripped a shot into the right corner of the net for his first goal of the evening and his eighth on the year.
During the 20th minute, defender Greg White stepped in front a pass above the midfield line and lofted a pass over the Southern Virginia defense. Amoo sidestepped a Knight defender and ran onto the ball, putting him one-on-one with the keeper. The redshirt sophomore's shot found the back of the net again for his ninth goal of the season and a 2-0 Flames advantage.
Six minutes later, Liberty found its leading scorer open for a shot opportunity from in close again. Midfielder Phillip Aseweh fed a pass across the top of the box for Amoo on the left corner. The forward hit the ball in stride, lining the shot into the right corner to give the Flames a 3-0 lead at 25:04.
Amoo netted his final goal of the night on his next shot opportunity in the 29th minute. Off a free kick, a pass into the 18-yard box hit off a several defenders and came free to Amoo, who cleaned up the loose ball in front of net, tucking it into the right corner for a single-game career-high, stadium record for a game and his 11th goal of the season.
Taylor, who was recognized before the game, scored his fourth goal of the year in the closing minutes of the opening half. The senior midfielder blocked a clearing pass and beat the out-of-position defense on the right side of the net for his fourth goal of the year, as Liberty went to intermission up, 5-0.
In the second half, the Flames added two more goals to their night's total. In the 49th minute, Zack Clark and Travis Joseph teamed up for a score. Off a corner kick by Clark, Joseph headed in his first goal of the season.
Forward Timothy Bullock netted the final goal of the evening. Defender Sam Duininck sent a crossing pass to the right side of the field to fellow forward Kyle Breitmeyer, who dropped the pass into the middle of the box for an on rushing Bullock. The junior found the right side open for his third goal of the year and the final margin of 7-0.
Liberty outshot Southern Virginia, 27-3, on the night and held a 10-0 advantage on corner kicks.
Senior Panashe Nhekairo made one save in the Liberty net on the evening. Richard Crist recorded four saves during his time in the Knight goal in the first half, while Ben May had one save, playing the entire second half.
The Flames' seven goals were the most by Liberty since a 7-0 win against Southern Virginia on Oct. 23, 2009.
As mentioned earlier, the seniors on the Liberty roster were recognized before the game, along with graduate assistant A.J. Madero. Taylor, Nhekairo and Osborne were each recognized for their service to God through soccer.
Liberty will have 10 days off until its next contest on Nov. 2. The Flames will travel over the Blue Ridges for their final Big South Conference road match of the season, with a visit to Lexington, Va., and the VMI Keydets. Match time at Patchin Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.