Dalton State ended a four game losing streak and got back to their winning ways with a 2-1 win over Faulkner (Ala.) in a crucial SSAC match at Lakeshore Park Soccer Complex on Saturday evening.
Ball possession would be the Roadrunners friend in the first half as they would control the pace of the match from the onset. Shots from Kevin Villatoro and Tyler Hudson would miss their mark in the first ten minutes of play, but Dalton State stayed on the attack.
With seven minutes left in the half Frank Herrera would send a screamer at net that Eagle goalkeeper Caio Calado would sky for and narrowly save to preserve the scoreless tie.
The Roadrunners would have two corner kick opportunities with time running down in the half, but could not convert as the score would remain tied at 0-0 entering halftime.
The Roadrunners would again come out of halftime on the attack as Kevin Villatoro took a strike at Calado. Calado would save the attempt to keep the match scoreless. Faulkner would not get many opportunities thanks in part to the Dalton State defense, but they took advantage of one they were given when Augusto Camara took a shot from 25 yards out in the 57' on a fast break that went over the outstretched hands of Samuel Fraire for the first goal of the afternoon and a 1-0 Eagle lead.
Dalton State would once again turn up the heat after the goal and their persistence would pay off when a Tyler Hudson corner kick in the 66' would go off the head of a Faulkner player trying to clear the ball out of the six and find the back of the net to even the score at 1-1.
The intensity would continue to rise as Dalton State looked to take the lead. With six minutes to go the Roadrunners would get their opportunity and take advantage when Amin Saheb Ettabaa sent a rocket past Calado for the 2-1 lead. The Roadrunner defense would hold true the rest of the way as Dalton State held on for the 2-1 win.
Dalton State improves to (5-7-1 overall, 1-3-0 SSAC) with the win, while Faulkner falls to (4-7-2 overall, 0-4-0 SSAC) with the loss. Amin Saheb Ettabaa collected his first goal as a Roadrunner with Daniel Valenciano picking up the assist. Valenciano leads the team with five assist on the year.
The Roadrunners snap their longest losing streak on the season and gets back into contention for a spot in the SSAC playoffs. The Roadrunners now sit in 5th place in the SSAC standings with four matches left to play.
The Roadrunners will hit the pitch again on Thursday, October 18 when they travel to Cochran for a match with Middle Georgia State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.