The Basics
Score: Roanoke 2 | N.C. Wesleyan 0
Records: Maroons 4-1-0 | Battling Bishops 0-3-1
Location: Salem, Va.
The Lead: Roanoke College looked to make it a perfect weekend when they took the field against N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday night. The Maroons had an easy time of it with Methodist, 6-0, on Friday and looked to wrap up their three September home games with a 3-0 record. The match would be played extremely close and was scoreless at the half. Roanoke got an early second half score and added another score in the closing minutes to run their home record to a perfect 3-0 to start the season.
Highlights:
- After playing the first 45 minutes to a 0-0 draw, Roanoke had a great chance early in the second half when Nathan Carey got a great feed and just missed the left side of the net.
- Moments later Alec Taitague fed Anthony Zarlenga for the first goal of the night, giving the Maroons a 1-0 edge just 2:40 into the second half.
- The Bishops looked to answer about five minutes later but the shot was saved by keeper Zach Behe.
- With 24 minutes left to play, NCW was awarded a free kick just outside the Roanoke box. A pass went to the right post and was centered back in front of the goal, but Behe dove to secure the ball and preserve the one goal advantage.
- Just moments later, a breakaway by the Battling Bishops led to a pair of scoring chances. Behe made a save and the shot off the rebound was blocked by Joe Carman.
- At the 72-minute mark, Gabriel Hendi took a cross from the right side and looked to put the ball in the back of the net but the NC Wesleyan defender made a last-ditch, diving effort to deflect the ball wide of the goal.
- With just under 13 minutes to play, a corner led to a scoring chance by Vincent Lamina but the header was saved and the score remained 1-0.
- A long pass over the top on the counter attack would lead to anther opportunity for the Bishops but the shot from the right side was just wide left.
- After four great scoring chances for the Bishops, Liam Camilleri intercepted a pass and took it to midfield launching a high arching shot that caught the keeper out of position to add a second goal with just over one-minute left on the clock.
- Behe recorded the shutout, making five saves.
Up next: Roanoke will embark on a five-match road trip over the next three weeks with the first stop in Farmville to face their rivals from Hampden-Sydney. The match with the Tigers is a non-conference matchup scheduled for September 15 at 700pm.
