By Staff
IT'S MINE – East Central's Kyle Miller (7) steals the ball away from East Mississippi's Paul Ballard. ECCC won the season-opening match for both squads by the score of 5-2. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
Aug, 29, 2002
SCOOBA Three goals by freshman forward Ricky Archuleta of Richland sparked East Central Community College to a 5-2 win over East Mississippi Community college here at the Lions Soccer Field on Wednesday.
The match was the season opener for both clubs.
East Central was active nearly all game against the Lions defense. The Warriors 31 shots on goal compared to just 13 for East Mississippi.
East Central head coach Kenneth Thompson said the contest was a typical first-game affair.
The Warriors went on the attack early, getting five shots on goal to just one for the Lions. ECCC was able to control the tempo behind Archuleta and forward/center Seltue Karweaye of Liberia, West Africa.
Karweaye missed on four shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes. Three of the shots were saved by Lions goal-keeper Daniel Hawthorne.
Midway through the half, the Warriors' John Theobald broke loose and beat Hawthorne with a kick to make it 1-0.
EMCC came right back, tying the game at 1-1 when mid-fielder Chris Wilkens took a cross and headed it in for the goal.
East Central answered with Theobald sending a short pass to Karweaye who slipped his way past the Lion defenders to boot a 5-yarder through to make it 2-1.
The Lions thwarted another Warrior shot late in the first half but on the rebound, Archuleta took a ball off the side of his foot and got it in. The goal made it 3-1.
A 30-yard goal by Archuleta early in the second half boosted the Warrior edge to 4-1. Midway through the half, he finished his day with a goal off a break, knocking down Hawthorne in the process to make it 5-1.
The Lions stayed in it with a goal off a breakaway by Patrick Dimichele in the final 10 minutes.
East Mississippi head coach Brian Bennett praised Hawthorne's efforts in goal.
Hawthorne finished with 12 saves for the game.
East Central keeper Corey Kent made six saves. Earning assists on the day for the Warriors were Justin Sendelweck, Theobald, Charles Goodwin, Karweaye and Brandon Ditto (2).
East Central returns to action on Saturday at Mississippi Delta in Moorhead.
East Mississippi plays again on Sept. 2 at Mississippi Gulf Coast in Perkinston.