The two-time defending WVIAC champion men's soccer squad tallied their first shutout of the 2011 season with a commanding 2-0 effort against conference opponent Davis & Elkins, Tuesday evening.
UC (2-1, 2-0) controlled the contest from the opening touch and was able to use an overwhelming offensive effort to get on the scoreboard early as Ryan Osborne (Wakefield, England/St. Wilfrid's CHS) knocked a shot off a Senator defender in the 35th minute for the 1-0 lead.
Just as D&E seemed to have slowed the charging Golden Eagles headed into halftime, 2009 WVIAC Player of the Year Dion Peters (Trincity, Trinidad/EL Dorado Secondary) struck using his supurb speed to race through the home team's defensive line. Early season goal enabler Justin Emerson (Sunderland, Canada/Brock) proved yet again he was dangerous from his defensive position with a perfectly placed long pass to the sprinting Peters who handled Senator goalkeeper Moises Oseguera with the shot to give UC breathing room going into the second half.
Charleston controled the tempo for the second half, yet managed to fire 12 shots not allowing Davis & Elkins to gain any offensive momentum.
"We dominated the match tonight, and I was particularly impressed with the defensive effort and organization in the second half. At halftime, I asked them to shut up shop, and make sure we didn't allow D&E any chances, which the lads did perfectly. We know we are the best attacking team in the region, but if we can consistently get a defensive display like the one in the second half, we will be able to compete for that National Championship"
The Golden Eagles outshot the homestanding Senators 19-to-10 forcing Oseguera to make nine saves in the contest. Sean Teepen (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) handled his duties in goal for UC making three saves for his first shutout of the 2011 campaign. Teepen finished 2010 with eight shutouts.
Next on the schedule for Charleston is a rematch of the 2010 WVIAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships with West Virginia Wesleyan (2-1) in Buckhannon, WV on Sept. 17 beginning at 7:00 pm.