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 Freshman Seth Rudolph's two goals in the opening 15 minutes proved to be the difference in GW's 2-0 victory over Xavier Friday. |
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Rudolph, Haug Shine in Men's Soccer's 2-0 Win over Xavier
Oct. 23, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington men's soccer team's Atlantic 10 match against Xavier on Friday was decided in the opening 15 minutes as freshman Seth Rudolph scored twice and redshirt sophomore Erik Haug stopped a penalty kick in that span to lift the Colonials to a 2-0 victory at Mount Vernon Field.
GW (8-6-0, 2-3-0) improved to 5-0 at home this season and gained an important three points in the A-10 standings heading into Sunday's 2:00 pm match against defending league champion and second-place Dayton. Xavier lost its third straight to fall to 2-9-1 overall and 1-4-0 in conference play.
Rudolph netted his fourth goal of the season - second game-winner - just 110 seconds into the match, collecting a one-timed pass from senior Erick Perez-Segnini and sending a deflected shot into the lower right corner. Sophomore Yoni Berhanu was credited with his team-leading fifth assist of the season on the centering pass to Perez-Segnini.
Xavier had two chances to equalize over the next four minutes, but Haug dove to his right to turn away Andy Dimbi's third minute penalty-kick attempt and junior defender Kory Trott slid to prevent Kennedy Nakwa's open-net attempt in the sixth minute.
Rudolph benefited from a Xavier miscue in the 15th minute to cap his career best four-point afternoon. Musketeers' goalkeeper Justin Marshall mishandled Perez-Segnini's swerving cross from the right side, dropping the ball to Rudolph for a half-volley from six yards. Freshman Mattia Melillo also recorded an assist on the play.
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Haug came up big again in the 52nd minute, pushing Ryan Gray's driven shot from a poor angle over the crossbar. Haug finished with seven saves for the shutout, the third of his career and the Colonials' fifth of the season.
Perez-Segnini had two late chances to add a goal to his two-assist effort, but Marshall saved a shot into the post in the 77th minute and Alexander Thompson chested a volley off the line in the 81st minute. Marshall finished with six saves in the losing effort.
GW held a 16-14 edge in shots and 9-8 advantage in shots on goal.
