LAKELAND, Fla. - The No. 13 Southeastern University men's soccer team defeated RV Keiser University 2-0 on Wednesday night. The Fire continue to be undefeated in conference play and thus far in the season.
Southeastern finished the first half with eight total shots, and their opponents managed six shots. Senior, Jake Van Der Luit recorded four shots in the first half for the Fire. One shot close to being on goal, unfortunately hitting the post and another just going over the crossbar. The game remained scoreless at the half.
In the 50th minute of the game, Van Der Luit gave the Fire a 1-0 lead, after receiving a perfect through ball from senior Craig Barker. Van Der Luit chipped his defender and with his left foot, put the ball in the right lower corner of the goal. Barker now has six assists for Southeastern.
Van Der Luit leads the Fire and The Sun Conference with 12 goals thus far in the season. He also leads the conference in shots and shots on goal.
Later in the 70th minute of the game, Barker won the ball from a Seahawk midfielder near the halfway line, dribbled up the field and from approximately 25 yards out, he rocketed his shot into the bottom left corner of the goal. Barker now has three goals on the season.
"I knew my opponent would dribble inside, so I cut off the run. Once I got the ball, I drove into the space and heard my teammate, Jackson yell to hit it. The keeper was tall, so I aimed for the corner and just hit it," Barker comments.
Southeastern and Keiser ended the night with a total of 16 shots each.
Senior, Logan Whitney didn't allow a goal to the Seahawks, saving a total of seven shots in the process. Other key players involved in Southeastern's shutout against Keiser are Joey Dotson, James Paylor, Ben-Avir Espinal, and Joshua Ruchdeschel. The backline's aggressive defense Wednesday night was key in recording a clean sheet.
"It's not just the back four, it is really is a brilliant effort from the team. Everyone puts their fair share in. We have guys who are meant to be going forward, but they're doing just as much on the defensive end as well," Paylor comments.Â
Coach Clay Roberts comments, "On the board in the locker room, it says defense wins the game tonight and that is something we charge the boys with tonight and playing a collectively good defensive game against a very good Keiser team. The boys stepped up and were up for the challenge."
Southeastern return to action on October 4th as they play the University of the Virgin Islands. The game is set to start at 7 p.m.Â
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