(RV) Men's Soccer Posts Shutout Against Bluefield

ATHENS, Tenn.- After being on the road for the past two games, the (RV) men's soccer team returned home for a two-game home stand on Saturday. The first game of the home stand came against the Bluefield University Rams, an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent. 

By the time ten minutes had passed in the game, the Bulldogs held a 2-0 advantage. The first goal came 1:03 into the contest as Julien Withrow scored on a Grant Barron assist. At the 6:11 mark, a sequence saw Logan Haricombe pass to Cian Gantley who connected with Dave Neijenhuis for the second goal of the game to make the lead two goals. Neijenhuis compiled a first hat trick by scoring the next two goals within 1:33 of each other, one of which Gantley assisted with. TWU got one more goal in the net before the end of the first half. Kuda Nhiwatiwa scored off a pass by Barron, making the lead 5-0 in favor of the Bulldogs at halftime. 

The offensive fireworks did not occur as much in the second half. A foul in the Bluefield box gave Tennessee Wesleyan a chance to add their sixth goal to the board. Neijenhuis assured the team did just that when his penalty kick attempt flew to the top left corner of the net, making the lead 6-0. The score remained at a six-goal advantage through the remainder of the game, giving the Bulldogs their second consecutive shutout win. 

Michael Garrihy and Pedro DeMoraes split time in the net for the team.

TWU (4-2-3, 4-0-1) will play the second game of the home stand on Tuesday when they welcome AAC rival Bryan College to town. The game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.