Men's Soccer Nips Panthers

MIAMI, Fla.—It was a tale of two halves in Barry 3-2 men’s soccer exhibition win over Florida International on Sunday afternoon at the FIU Soccer Complex. The Bucs built a 3-0 lead in the first half and then hung on despite allowing two scores in the second frame.

 

Less than an hour before kickoff, the heavens opened at FIU soccer complex, delaying the start time and making for excruciatingly steamy playing conditions. However the heat did not stop Barry sophomore Mark Anderson, who scored 2 goals, including the game-winning goal and added one assist.

 

Junior Sascha Koettig started off the scoring in the 33^rd minute from a long pass off the foot of Anderson. Koettig beat the goalkeeper and finessed the ball just over several FIU defenders.

 

Anderson’s first goal came just 0:26 seconds later from an assist by Mark Kilpatrick. Anderson drilled a shot into the upper left corner past a diving effort by FIU goalkeeper Shane Lopez.

 

Anderson’s second goal rifled between the pipes from 22 yards out off a corner kick from Joe Conkleton in the 41^st minute. The Koettig/Anderson combo amassed a 3-0 lead heading into the intermission.

 

However it was the defensive side of the field where Barry head coach Steve McCrath was most impressed.

 

Listen to head coach Steve McCrath talk about the game

“Every goal that we got was completely result of what we had been working on defensively this past week,” McCrath said. “Overall I was very pleased. I thought we did great.”

 

During the second half of play McCrath was able to utilize his entire lineup and give his starters a little time to rest after a hard-fought first half.

 

The Buccaneer subs were able to hold their own against the Division I opponent but gave up two goals late in the second period.

 

The Golden Panthers made a run during the second half with goals by Anthony Hobbs and Marcos De Oliveira but several key saves by Barry goalkeeper Bacheler Jean Pierre foiled those plans of a comeback win.

 

The next action for the Buccaneers is this Thursday, at home, against Georgia Southwestern at 7 p.m. The game marks the start of the 2009 regular season for Barry men’s soccer.

 

   

Goals by period       1  2  Tot

 --------------------------------------

        Barry...............    3  0 -  3

        Florida Int'l.......  0  2 -  2

 

 

GOAL   Time Team     Goal Scorer              Assists                          

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 1.   32:37 BARRY    Sascha Koettig            Mark Anderson

 2.   33:03 BARRY    Mark Anderson            Mark Kilpatrick

 3.   40:25 BARRY    Mark Anderson            Joe Conkleton

 4.   63:27 FIU           Anthony Hobbs            (unassisted)

 5.   75:11 FIU          Marcos de Oliveira       Fadi Mansour