Final Stats

Box Score

CLINTON - The fourth-ranked Coastal Carolina men's soccer team used first-half goals by Louis Dargent and Bryce Follensbee to secure a 2-nil win at Presbyterian College in Big South Conference action Wednesday evening.

The win, which was the Chanticleers' fourth straight and 42nd in their last 48 conference regular season matches, improved Coastal to 7-0-1 on the season and 2-0-0 in league play. The Blue Hose fell to 0-9-1 with the defeat.

Dargent gave the Chanticleers the early 1-0 lead with his goal at the 9:50 mark of the first half. Miguel Gutierrez sent a corner kick into the box from the right side of the field that Dargent easily headed past the PC keeper. The goal was Dargent's first of the season and the fifth of his Chanticleer career.

Five minutes later Follensbee made the score line 2-0 in Coastal's favor with his fifth goal of the season. Elis Bjornsson ignited the scoring play with a ball into the box from the edge of the attacking third that was headed down by Tommy Gudmundsson toward Follensbee inside the 6-yard box. Follensbee easily slotted his left-footed shot into the back of the net.

Coastal closed the first 45 minute stanza with an 11-4 advantage in shots and a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Moreover, the Coastal defense did not allow a shot on goal, while the attacking players registered eight.

The opening stages of the second half featured a series of counter attacks by both sides before settling down and Coastal retaking control of the pitch. Despite not finding the net in the second half, the Chants maintained control of the match through the later stages of the period and racked up a 6-4 shot advantage.

The shutout marked the Chants sixth in eight matches this season as the team's goals against average dropped to an NCAA-best 0.24. Moreover, the match was the second consecutive that the Chanticleer backline and defensive midfielders did not allow an opponent shot on goal.

Coastal's Pina was credited with the win, improving to 7-0-1 on the season, while PC's Johnny Archer (0-7-1) made eight saves in the losing effort.

Coastal plays its second consecutive road match Sat., Oct. 10, at UNC Asheville. The match, which is scheduled for 7 p.m., at the Bulldogs' Greenwood Field will be streamed live on the Big South Network.

FIRST HALF:
2' Espinoza found himself 1v1 with the PC keeper on the left side of the box, but the freshman's shot was saved by PC's Archer.

10' Dargent gave the Chants the early 1-nil lead with his first goal of the season. Gutierrez sent a corner kick into the box from the right side of the field that Dargent easily headed past the PC keeper.

15' Follensbee counted his fifth goal of the season, giving Coastal the 2-0 lead. Bjornsson sent a ball into the box from the edge of the attacking third that was headed down by Gudmundsson toward Follensbee inside the 6-yard box. Follensbee easily slotted his left-footed shot into the back of the net.

35' Saif AlHameli had a good look on net, but his shot from distance was tipped away for a corner by PC's diving Archer. The ensuing corner kick was clear by the Blue Hose defense.

45' The horn signaled for halftime - with the Chanticleers holding a 2-0 lead.

SECOND HALF:
47' Presbyterian created its best scoring opportunity to that point of the contest. A Blue Hose corner kick was sent into the mix, knocked down and remained near the penalty spot as neither team could get a solid foot on the ball. The ball finally popped free, but the ensuing Blue Hose shot sailed high over the crossbar.

69' Darius Strambler created space on the right side of the PC 18-yard box and played the ball back to Jair Espinoza in the center of the field. However, Espinoza's shot attempt was a bit heavy as it went high of the goal frame.

90' The final horn sounded, resulting in a 2-0 victory for the fourth-ranked Chanticleers.

SCORING SUMMARY CCU: Louis Dargent (Miguel Gutierrez) 9:50
CCU: Bryce Follensbee (Tommy Gudmundsson, Elis Bjornsson) 14:54