quote:
Cougars' soccer rule over Citadel continues

CHARLESTON 3, CITADEL 1

Wednesday, October 30, 2002
BY RICK NELSON
Of The Post and Courier Staff

The Citadel tried a little of everything Tuesday against the College of Charleston. The Bulldogs had home-field advantage, celebrated Senior Night and even had some of their cadets march over to the match.

But once again it didn't matter. The Cougars continued their mastery over their crosstown rivals with a 3-1 win before about 500 fans at Stoney Field.

Charleston coach Ralph Lundy, who has not lost to The Citadel in his 16 years with the Cougars, said he was happy with the result but unhappy with his team's play.

"The Citadel was tough and really put great effort into the game," Lundy said. "But as good as The Citadel was, I don't think we had a very good performance. We weren't sharp, we weren't focused enough and we didn't have our heads up. At this time of the year, we have to play better than this."

Charleston improved to 9-5-1 overall and 4-2 in the Southern Conference. The Citadel fell to 4-11-0 and 1-5 in the SoCon.

The Bulldogs closed within a goal in the first half, but the Cougars, who are third in the league in goals-against average, shut them out over the final 63 minutes of the match.

However, the Bulldogs twice came close to tying the match in the second half. The first chance came with about 14 minutes left when Cody Bragg fired a pass to a diving Ben Wilson, whose header just missed from about 20 yards out.

The last opportunity came in the closing minutes. That shot appeared to be headed into the net until the ball deflected off a defender's foot in front of the goal.

"It was a tough game," Citadel coach Joel Christy said. "We were right there. If we come up with that shot in the last two minutes it's a tied game."

Jeff Files had a goal and an assist for the Cougars, who won for the sixth time in their last seven matches. Ricardo Diaz Granados added his team-leading sixth goal of the season on an assist from Ben Hollingsworth. Jason Dowiak scored the final goal on a penalty kick with 10 seconds remaining.

Charleston had a 19-12 advantage in shots including a 12-7 edge in the first half. The Cougars had six corner kicks to three for the Bulldogs.

Cougars goalkeeper Keith Wiggans had four saves while Bulldogs keeper Brian Voyer, a former Middleton High School standout, notched six saves.

Granados put Charleston ahead 1-0 with a header at the 9:09 mark. The junior from Cartagena, Colombia, darted into the box as Files' pass sailed in front of the goal.

Granados turned his ankle in the final seconds of the match and was helped off the field. He will be evaluated today.

Files added the Cougars' second goal at the 18:56 mark, scoring on Hollingsworth's pass.
The Citadel broke through in the 28th minute when Bragg gathered in a pass from Wilson and beat Wiggans.
The Cougars had a chance to widen their lead in the opening minutes of the second half when they sprinted free on a 3-on-1 break. Files, streaking down the middle, decided to keep the ball but his shot went just wide.


COMING UP

Charleston plays host this weekend to the Carolina Youth Development Center Classic at Patriots Point Field. South Carolina takes on Coastal Carolina at 5 p.m. Friday followed by Charleston playing Winthrop at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Gamecocks play Winthrop at 1 p.m., and Charleston faces Coastal Carolina at 3:30 p.m.

The matches Sunday will be followed by a makeup game between the Cougars' women's team and Davidson at 6 p.m.

The Citadel is at Davidson at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Bulldogs need a win over the Wildcats or at UNC Greensboro on Tuesday to stay among the league's top eight teams and earn a spot in the SoCon tournament.