Box Score

BLUEFIELD, Va. – The Rams had a scorching start in Monday's men's soccer matchup against Concord University, tallying three goals in the opening 13 minutes of action and keeping the Mountain Lions scoreless for the contest en route to the 3-0 non-conference win.
 
The Rams improve to 2-1 with the win, while Concord is still in search of its first win of the young season, dropping to 0-1-1.
 
Bluefield lit up the scoreboard quickly, capitalizing on each of its first three shot attempts.
 
Benjy Slator converted the first score just 2:19 into the game as Jacob Mader sent a ball toward the right edge of the box. With Concord's keeper Henry Boyle charging, Slator arrive a step quicker, chipping the ball into the box and past Boyle, then sending it home to the back of the net for his second score of the year.
 
Not long after, the Rams extended the score to 2-0, this time with Slator serving as the set-up man. Carrying the ball through the middle of the field toward the top of the box, Slator attracted a host of Mountain Lions. But, just as the crowd found him, he slipped a pass to the left for a cutting Dean Johnson, who finished the play at 5:57 on the clock for his first marker as a Ram.
 
Bluefield continued to dominate possession early on and converted once again in the 13^th minute. A Concord foul near midfield set up the opportunity, as Johnson sent the free kick into the box.
 
A CU defender headed it out, but Michael Callaghan was ready, taking the ball on a couple of bounces then firing a laser shot into the upper-right 90 for the 3-0 advantage.
 
"I'm proud of the boys on how they came out of the gate and took early control of the game," remarked head men's soccer coach Chase Neidig. "We really suffocated them and made them play into our hands, which created several good opportunities in the final third."
 
The Mountain Lions wouldn't fire their first shot until the 32^nd minute of play, but it was blocked by BC defender Nick Rivadeniera. CU also posted the final two shots of the half, one being wide and one being saved by keeper Oscar Hernandez—who started his first game as a Ram.
 
Bluefield had a pair of early opportunities in the second half, but a Mader look went sailing high and another free kick from Johnson found the crossbar.
 
Concord tripled its shot total in the second half, posting nine attempts over the final 45 minutes; however, Hernandez kept the Mountain Lions blank by saving the three shots on frame. He closed the game with four saves to earn his shutout.
 
Concord ended with the 12-11 edge in shots, and both teams only had four shots on goal.
 
BC had five corner kicks to three for CU, while the Mountain Lions were whistled for 14 fouls to 12 for the Rams. The teams combined for eight yellow cards, five for Bluefield and three for Concord.
 
"We did get away from our style of play a bit toward the end of both halves, but credit to our defense for keeping a clean sheet," said Neidig.
 
The Rams return to the East River Soccer Complex on Wednesday, as the second part of an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader. The women's team hosts St. Andrews at 3 p.m. and the men follow at 5 p.m.