Dalton State got two goals from Justin Riescher and it proved to be all they needed as a stout defense finished off a 2-0 non-conference win over SSAC rival Middle Georgia at Lakeshore Park Soccer Complex on Saturday.
DS pressed the issue early and it payed off in a big way when a free kick ricochet off a MGA player to an undefended Justin Riescher who headed it past Matt Wallace for a 1-0 lead just shy of the five minute mark. The Birds wasted no time trying to add to it, but shots from Noah Cicoria and Zachary Perry went high and wide respectively.
Riescher added to his goal tally when he took a pass from Francisco Medina, carved through the Knight defense and booted it home for a 2-0 lead in the 37'.
DS continued to keep Middle Georgia out of the finishing third and carried the 2-0 advantage into halftime
Dalton State pressed hard for another goal and owned the first 15 minutes of play with four shots to MGA's one. Neither shot found its mark as the score remained 2-0.
Riescher came close to a hat trick when he lined up in the 65' for a penalty kick. He had the lower 90 but Wallace made an incredible diving save to keep the Knights down just two.
The Roadrunners continued to take their shots, while also limiting the Knights to just one for the rest of the match. Wallace remained solid in goal for MGA in not letting the score get out of hand as Dalton State came away victorious, 2-0.
Dalton State improves to 1-0, while Middle Georgia State falls to 0-1. Dalton State carried a 15-3 shot advantage that included an 8-1 clip in shots on goal. Aaron Fraire recorded another clean sheet in goal and was barely tested thanks in part to the stingy Roadrunner back line. Justin Riescher did the same as fellow Roadrunner Emily Darnell in the women's game collecting two goals.
The Roadrunners will hit the pitch again on Saturday, October 3 when they join the women's team in traveling to Knoxville, Tenn. to battle Johnson (Tenn.). Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.