It’s good to be home.
After three straight losses and five straight road games, the GW men’s soccer team commemorated their program’s 50th anniversary in fine fashion: defeating visiting Loyola 1-0 in the team’s home opener. Junior Garrett Heine gave the Colonials (2-4-0) the lift in the first half on a brilliant volley from the six yard box.
“We were dying to get home,” said head coach Craig Jones. “The first five games on the road took some energy out of us. Today we looked like the confident home team: we dictated play and showed some life. It was a great performance.”
The Colonials had the upper hand early and created a good chance in the 5th minute when Heine got the ball to his feet at the top of the 18 but was unable to finish. However, Heine would get another opportunity thirty minutes later – one that he would not slip away.
Outside-midfielder Eddie Painter crossed a perfect ball into Heine, who controlled it and buried it into the top right corner of the net to put GW up 1-0. Heine’s goal proved to be enough as the GW back four was able to hold Loyola to minimal dangerous balls and chances to tie it up.
Heine has been the source of most of GW’s production so far this season, netting three of the Colonials’ five goals. Since scoring has been sparse, Heine said he knew he had to keep pressure going towards the net.
“I missed a chance early on but I stayed with it and was able to give our team a lift,” Heine said. “We need to keep this up at home heading into league play. We are looking forward to that.”
GW continued to dictate play throughout the second half until Loyola took a defender from their back line and moved him up to the offensive third in the final minutes. The Greyhounds were able to get behind freshman goalkeeper Thor Arne Hofs but GW was able to clear their effort at the last moment.
Plays like that showed some juice in the team that has slogged through the first portion of the schedule. With two weeks left until the Atlantic 10 season begins, Jones was pleased to see it.
“I liked the energy out of this club,” he said. “It’s something we are going to need moving forward into league play. Hopefully we can take this win and turn it into something.”
Before the Oct. 3 A-10 opener at Davidson, GW has its hands full, closing out the non-conference schedule with games against No. 11 UMBC, Robert Morris, and defending NCAA Champions Virginia.
