Covenant Men's Soccer Defeats Berea, 6-2
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
- by Andrew Mindeman
Anthony Buzzeo recorded his first multi-goal match and the Covenant men's soccer team used three goals in each half to defeat Berea, 6-2, in USA South action on Wednesday night.
Covenant (6-2, 3-0 USA South) remains undefeated in conference play with the win. It is the first time since joining the USA South that the Scots have won the first three league matches of the season.
Buzzeo was one of five Covenant players to score on the night. The junior scored in the 12th minute, assisted by Austin Berry, and then added the final tally of the night with his goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Carl Simakoff. Buzzeo's season goal total reaches three with the two-goal effort.
Ethan Pettit got the scoring started for the Scots with his first goal of the season in the seventh minute of action. Pettit took his time above the box and rifled a shot past Berea keeper Clay Sheaffer and into the net to put the Scots ahead 1-0. Pettit would add two assists later in the match to collect a four-point night.
After Buzzeo's first goal put Covenant ahead 2-0, freshman Keegan Weekley got his first collegiate score. Weekley found the back of the net in the 34th minute, giving the Scots a 3-0 advantage. That lead would last until halftime.
Early in the second half, it was another freshman's turn to get career goal No. 1 as Berry took a pass from Pettit inside the box and knocked in his shot from close range in the 46th minute to put the Scots up 4-0. The score was Berry's first collegiate goal.
Berea (2-5, 0-2 USA South) would score twice later in the half to slice the Covenant lead to 4-2. Issac Mendoza scored in the 51st minute, while Junior Gyamfi made it 4-2 with his goal in the 57th minute. However, Covenant would put the match out of reach as Jake Major notched his third goal of the season in the 66th minute, also assisted by Pettit, before Buzzeo capped the scoring in the 87th minute with his second goal of the night.
Covenant held a 17-7 shot edge in the match. Henry Hooks made his first collegiate start and picked up the win after making two saves in the first half. Isaac Schoutko also saw time in the net for the Scots and made one save.
Sheaffer made five saves for Berea in the loss.
Covenant returns home to open a three-match homestand beginning on Friday against Averett. The USA South match is set to kickoff at 4:30 p.m.