WEEK 2: MEN'S SOCCER NOTES
September 08, 2010 | Men's Soccer
SCHEDULE
GWU will be hitting the road for the first time in its 2010 regular
season this weekend, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will take on Lipscomb
at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. The Lipscomb match
is slated for a 4 p.m. central time start on Friday afternoon.
While, the match is at a neutral site, it is technically a home
game for the Bison, who are also located in Nashville. The match
versus Belmont is slated to begin at 2:35 p.m. central time on
Sunday afternoon.
Match Notes vs. Lipscomb
GWU will be hitting the road for the first time in its 2010 regular
season this weekend, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will take on Lipscomb
at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. While, the match is
at a neutral site, it is technically a home game for the Bison, who
are also located in Nashville. Lipscomb is 0-2 on the season thus
far and are looking to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to Tulsa on
Monday. GWU is 1-1 and coming off a 3-0 victory over another
Atlatnic Sun Conference foe in Mercer.
Overall Series History vs. Lipscomb
The Runnin' Bulldogs are 4-3-0 overall versus its former Atlantic
Sun Conference foe Lipscomb. In fact in the two teams' first
meeting back in 2001, GWU defeated the Bison 8-2. However,
Lipscomb has won the last two match ups between these two schools,
winning 4-0 back in 2008.
Match Notes vs. Belmont
Belmont, the host of the Belmont Invitational this weekend, is 0-2
on the season having fallen at Memphis and at SIU Edwardsville.
The Bruins will be playing its first home match of the season on
Friday night, as Belmont will take on Centenary (La.) for their
first game of the two-day event. GWU will look to defeat Belmont
at home for the first time since defeating the Bruins 1-0 in 2007,
what was then a conference game.
Overall Series History vs. Belmont
GWU is 4-3-1 all-time versus the Belmont Bruins with its first win
coming in the two teams' first ever meeting in 2001. Gardner-Webb
defeated Belmont 5-1 in the inaugural meeting, however, Belmont
holds the current edge having defeated GWU 2-1 in overtime in
2008.
ARE WE STILL IN THE A-SUN??
You would think that GWU was still apart of the Atlantic Sun
Conference this season, as the Runnin' Bulldogs have already faced
one A-Sun foe in Mercer and will square off with two more this
weekend in Lipscomb and Belmont. So far GWU, the 2006 Atlantic Sun
Men's Soccer Tournament Champions, are 1-0 against its old buddy's
from the A-Sun this season.
OPENING WEEK OF PLAY FULL OF FIREWORKS
The 2010 GWU men's soccer team opened up its first week of play
with two exciting games against two non-conference foes from the
state of Georgia. In the season opener, Gardner-Webb tied the
score up at 1-1 midway through the second half to force an overtime
versus Georgia State. However, the Panthers of GSU scored in less
than two minutes into the overtime period to come away with the 2-1
overtime win. GWU refused to let its second game of the week go
into extra time, as the Runnin' Bulldogs scored three goals, all by
way of freshmen, to down Mercer 3-0.
EXHIBITION PLAY
GWU wrapped up its exhibition season last Saturday afternoon,
playing the Georgia Southern Eagles to a 0-0 draw. The Runnin'
Bulldogs posted a 0-1-2 record over its three exhibition bouts,
struggling to score in each contest, totaling only one goal over
the three matches. However, the GWU defense has been superb for
Coach Setzer's squad, as the Runnin' Bulldogs have allowed only two
goals, both of which came in the 2-1 loss at Marshall.
SAME FACES, NEW NUMBERS
GWU's roster has a lot of old faces with new numbers this
season.
Richie Wall - #5
Romeo Kabanda - #7
Guy Mbanyamsig - #9
Jaap Elekan - #32
KEY RETURNERS
While GWU has several returners from last season, some key
returners include Romeo Kabanda, Taylor Jordan, Guy Mbanyamsig,
Richie Wall, John Sargent, Jon Ole Reinhardsen and Trent Kozman.
Kabanda and Jordan will be asked to pick up the scoring load left
behind be the departure of last year's leading scorer Gerard
Hefferon. Wall, Sargent and Mbanyamsig, will all see time in the
midfield for GWU this season and will be vital to the team's
success. Reinhardsen and Kozman will help lead a new look GWU
defense with the departure of Jordan Gaines.
NEW FACES
The GWU men's soccer team has a slew of new faces, including
transfers and incoming freshmen. Coach Setzer's squad has 15 new
faces in 2010 with many seeing a lot of minutes throughout the
season.
GWU PICKED SIXTH IN THE BIG SOUTH PRESEASON
POLL
The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs were picked sixth in the Big
South annual preseason poll this offseason. GWU, who received 12
fourth-place votes, totaled 32 points to place behind Radford who
was picked to finish fifth. The Runnin' Bulldogs were selected to
finish ahead of UNCA, PC and VMI.
STAFF NO STRANGERS TO GWU
GWU's coaching staff all have strong ties to not only the
Gardner-Webb men's soccer program, but to the Gardner-Webb
University family as a whole. Head Coach Tony Setzer is in his
23rd season at the helm of the men's soccer program, which has been
in existence for 24 years. Associate Head Coach Tyler Kettering,
manned the goal for Coach Setzer and the Runnin' Bulldogs from
2003-06. Graduate Assistant Coach Dane Geraci is a GWU graduate
and also played for Coach Setzer from 2004-08. Volunteer Coaches
Bradley Morrison, Matt Niescierowicz and Dennis Puckerin all played
for GWU and Coach Setzer as well, with Puckerin being a member of
the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame.
THE BIG SOUTH NETWORK
Gardner-Webb, as of now, will have a total of nine regular season
matches and the 2010 Big South Conference Championships streamed on
the Big South Network. The matches that will be streamed via the
Big South Network can be found at www.GWUsports.com or at www.bigsouthsports.com.
LOOKING AHEAD
Gardner-Webb will return home for its next two matches, both of
which are non-conference play against regional opponents. On
Wednesday, September 15, GWU will host the Spartans of USC Upstate
at 7 p.m. The Runnin' Bulldogs will then remain at home to host
Davidson at 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 18th.
For the complete week two men's soccer notes click on the attached pdf.
| Week 2 Men's Soccer Notes |
