COLUMBIA, S.C.- The No. 25 Southeastern University men’s soccer team extended its solid start to the 2019 season, defeating the Columbia International University Rams 2-0 to improve to 2-0 for the second-straight year.
“We did a good job of creating within the system and should have pushed the score line more,” shared head coach Clay Roberts. “But credit to their goalkeeper, he was very good for them.”
The Fire turned their first shot on frame into a goal, as junior midfielder Joshua Ruckdeschel finished a ball from senior midfielder Craig Barker in the 12th minute to put SEU ahead of CIU 1-0.
The goal was Ruckdeschel’s first in a Southeastern uniform.
The Fire out-shot the Rams 5-3 for the remainder of the scoreless half.
It took just 3:32 into the second half for SEU to find an insurance goal. Graduate forward and last season’s leading scorer Jake Van Der Luit found the back of the net in the 49th minute to put the Fire ahead 2-0.
Columbia International was able to withstand a pair of Southeastern penalty kick attempts in the second half to keep the contest close. However, the Fire defense held the Rams to just a single shot in the final 45 minutes of action.
SEU also generated 11 corner kicks on the night compared to two by CIU.
“We will hope to continue this momentum into a very tough game Wednesday versus Grace,” added Coach Roberts.
SEU takes on the Grace College Lancers on Wednesday night as a part of the CIU Invitational at 7:00 p.m.
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