PENSACOLA, Fla. – The LaGrange College men's soccer team scored three second-half goals Saturday, as junior midfielder Blake Webb scored the game-winning tally for the Panthers with 1:32 remaining in regulation during a 3-2 season-opening win at Pensacola Christian.
A long ball by sophomore Nicholas Smiech in the defensive end sparked the clinching sequence for the Panthers (1-0). Junior midfielder Austin Anderson won the ball in the attacking zone and sent a pass to Webb in the 18-yard box. The Zebulon, Georgia, native utilized great footwork and patience to force the goalkeeper and defenders to commit, and then netted a shot into the bottom left corner.
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Webb has two career game-winning goals, as he sealed the win with an overtime tally during a 2-1 victory at Piedmont on Oct. 1, 2019. In the win Saturday, freshman midfielder William Perry scored his first collegiate goal and senior defender Evan Sampers tallied his first assist.
"It was a good win for us as a team," said LaGrange College Men's Soccer Head Coach Ryan Dickson. "A lot of freshmen got some minutes and put in crucial performances that helped us get the win. The mentality of the team was excellent, and we showed that we wanted it more as a team."
All five goals were scored in the second half, including two in the opening 8:29. The Eagles (0-3) struck in the 47th minute. Dakotah Barchus orchestrated the play, sending a long ball from deep in his own zone into the attacking end. Angel Acosta finished the sequence, burying a curving shot into the top right corner on a pass from the left edge of the box by Riley Rhodes.
Senior midfielder Asher Hendon established position in the middle of the box and headed a long throw-in by Sampers into the left side of the net, knotting the score at 1-1 during the 54th minute. LC took its first lead of the game with 13:10 on the clock, as junior defender Alex Drazic played an outstanding ball from just inside the midfield line onto the right edge of the box. Perry took advantage and eluded a defender, netting a shot into the bottom left corner.
Rhodes evened the score at 2-2 for the Eagles less than three minutes later, blasting a penalty kick into the right side of the net just beyond the reach of a diving effort by Panther junior goalkeeper Lucas Wright.
LaGrange controlled the possession and territorial advantage during the initial 10 minutes of the first half. With 28:12 remaining, Wright made a highlight-reel stop on a shot from point-blank range by Anthony Ruiz. The save created a lively rebound, with Drazic and Hendon helping their goalkeeper by each blocking a shot in the following scrum.
With just over nine minutes left in the opening half, Drazic make a tremendous steal on the defensive end, and then sprinted after the loose ball and saved it from going out of bounds, leading to a successful LC clear. In the final seconds, freshman midfielder Sean Carter created a scoring opportunity with a hesitation move at the top of the box, but his attempt trickled wide left.
Wright earned his seventh collegiate win, making three saves. Pensacola Christian held a 20-15 lead in shots, to go along with a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal. The hosts led the corner kicks category, 7-5. Webb led the visitors with four shots, while Perry and Hendon recorded three apiece.
The Panthers will play Warren Wilson Friday at 5 p.m. in Asheville, North Carolina.
Assistant Sports Information Director Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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