Lions offense explodes in win over Catawba
The Mars Hill men’s soccer team (5-3-0, 2-2 SAC) defeated Catawba (1-6-0, 0-4 SAC) 6-2 Wednesday evening at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. The Lions had six different goal scorers.
MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill men's soccer team (5-3-0, 2-2 SAC) defeated Catawba (1-6-0, 0-4 SAC) 6-2 Wednesday evening at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. The Lions had six different goal scorers.
The Lions dictated play for a majority of the first half, moving the ball fluidly through the midfield until they took the lead late in the frame.
With just under 10 minutes remaining in the half, Rasmus Nielsen headed in the Lions' goal off of a corner kick taken from Jeppe Christensen. The ball, sent from left to right, was put in the near post from Nielsen for his first of the season.
The second half would see a total of seven goals scored, five from Mars Hill.
Sebastian Bertilsson scored his fourth of the year less than 10 minutes into the second half off of a slick feed from Jimmy Char. Inside the box, Char drew three defenders towards him before sliding the ball to Bertilsson who blasted it low, inside the far right post to put Mars Hill up by two.
The Lions added another marker when Oscar Mitchell snuck in the backside and headed home his first of the season off of a Christensen free kick from 25 yards out. Jordan Lennon, moments later on an amazing individual effort, danced around and past his defender before lifting the ball over the sprawling goalkeeper for his second of the season and the Lions fourth tally of the night.
Catawba would score the next two goals five minutes apart with tallies from Borja Gaspar and Hunter Faust. But, with just over three minutes remaining in the contest, Carlos Ayala-Viera reestablished the three goal lead with his first collegiate goal.
With less than a minute remaining, Derek Kaple joined the party with his first of the season. Both Christensen and Char had two assists on the night and Brian Salzman made five saves for his fifth win of the year.
"Another tough battle for the guys," head coach Gregg Munn said after the game. "Happy with their response from Saturday and ability to capitalize on chances this evening. There are many positives to take from the evening."
Mars Hill returns to action on Saturday, September 29 when they host Newberry at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. The match is slated for a 3:30 p.m. start.
