The GW men’s soccer team ended its five-game winning streak with a 2-1 loss to La Salle Sunday in Philadelphia. The Colonials almost reached six straight wins but an overtime goal by Explorer Josh France gave La Salle the victory and spoiled the Colonials’ streak. The men recorded their fifth straight win Friday, shutting out Fordham 3-0 in the Bronx.
Before suffering his first loss of the 2002 season in the La Salle game, GW goalkeeper Eric Lund recorded his fourth shutout of the season in the win over Fordham. Lund, who prior to Sunday had a scoreless streak of more than 269 minutes, had three shutouts over the team’s five-game winning streak. The junior allowed only four goals all season, while notching 44 saves, and is a big reason for the Colonials’ success, senior midfielder Mike Goldman said.
“Eric has been one of the keys to our success this season so far,” he said. “He deserves some recognition, just look at the scores of our games recently. He’s only let up four goals the entire season.”
La Salle 2, GW 1
Sunday, Oct. 27
Philadelphia, Pa.
La Salle ended GW’s streak Sunday with Josh France’s game-winning goal in the 97th minute on a free kick. He put a tough-angle shot past goalkeeper Eric Lund, giving the junior his first loss of the 2002 season. Aside from the two he let through, Lund saved four shots on goal. La Salle’s goalkeeper Stash Graham also had four saves on the day.
The Colonials (9-7, 5-3 Atlantic 10) were first on the scoreboard when junior forward Arnar Johannsson tapped the ball in for his 13th goal of the season on a double assist by Goldman and senior Matt Osborne 12 minutes into the game. With the goal, Johannsson surpassed Osborne as the team’s leading scorer.
After the Explorers (7-8-1, 5-3 A-10) tied the game in the 33rd minute off Tom Kenney’s header past Lund, neither team could capitalize for the winning goal, ending regulation with a 1-1 tie.
GW 3, Fordham 0
Friday, Oct. 25
Bronx, N.Y.
The men earned the last game of their five-game win streak shutting out Fordham 3-0 Friday. Osborne scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season in the 3-0 win. He is the team’s second leading scorer behind forward Arnar Johannsson, who scored his 13th on Sunday.
Osborne scored the first of the Colonials’ three goals, knocking in a cross from junior forward Fabio Andrade to give GW a 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the game. He added his second 20 minutes later, again on a cross, this time from junior midfielder Jeremy Catlin.
Freshman midfielder Steve Brown scored his first collegiate goal to bury the Rams (4-11, 1-7 A-10), heading in a pass from junior back Justin Evans at 71:49.
GW out-shot the Rams 16-9 and scored eight more shots on goal (11-3). Osborne and Johannsson each took five shots and combined for nine of the team’s shots on goal.
The Colonials return to Mount Vernon next weekend for a home stand against Massachusetts and Rhode Island before hosting Richmond the following weekend. These are three of the best teams in the A-10, and how the Colonials fare against these teams will likely determine their tournament fate, Goldman said.
