North Carolina Wesleyan Athletics

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Bishop soccer advances to NCAA Second Round with 4-3 win

Baltimore, MD - The Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan built an early 4-0 advantage and held off a furious rally by Franklin & Marshall late in the game to secure a 4-3 victory in the first round of the NCAA men's soccer championships on Saturday night at Johns Hopkins University. The Bishops (17-1) scored all four goals in the opening half, getting two goals and an assist from senior Alimamy Kargbo (pictured), to advance to the second round where they will face host Johns Hopkins. JHU recorded a 1-0 overtime win over DeSales earlier in the evening.

NC Wesleyan took a quick 1-0 lead in the seventh minute after Kargbo finished a 1-on-1 opportunity off a through ball from senior Danny Jones at the 7:00 mark. Kargbo collected his second goal in the 24th minute on another quick break when he chipped the ball over F&M keeper Zach Zamek.

Kevin Lue and Jones pushed the Bishops lead to 4-0 with a goal apiece over a three-minute span near the end of the first half. Kirsch was credited with the assist on Lue's goal, while Jones touched home a deflected Kargbo shot in the 42nd minute.

Down 4-0 at the half, Franklin & Marshall fought back and got its first goal off a penalty kick by Ryan McGonigle at the 73:32 mark. The Diplomats cut the gap to 4-2 when McGonigle scored on a header on Brandon Corday's direct kick from the flank in the 85th minute.

Just 1:28 later, Matt McCall found the back of the net on a pass from Corday 10-yards from the goal to make it 4-3. F&M, however, could not get the equalizer in the final 4:11 of the game.

Zamek ended with four saves for the Diplomats, while NCWC's Alberto Faisca made two for the Bishops. Wesleyan out-shot F&M 18-11 on the night.

Sunday's game time versus Johns Hopkins is slated for 6:00 p.m. The Bishops will be seeking their second straight Sweet 16 appearance.

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