Barons score shutout for 3rd straight win

By Bill Glass
BPC Public Relations

MOUNT VERNON -- "It was not perfection, but when you strive for perfection occasionally you will come close."

Such were the thoughts of Brewton-Parker College men's soccer coach Ben Moore after the Barons' impressive 3-0 win over a tough Southern Wesleyan University side on Saturday in Central, S.C.

The win was Brewton-Parker's first in two Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference matches and overall was the Barons' third straight win.

The Barons (4-4 overall after the victory) kept possession, played the ball wide, frequently switched the point of attack and played their positions, and thus they were able to control the tempo of the game and keep their opponents off balance.

Southern Wesleyan (2-5 overall, 0-2 GACC) fielded a talented group of players, both technically and tactically sound, and played hard with great determination.

"The key is that we were able to get in behind their defense on several occasions, and when we did we scored," Moore said. "We were playing diagonal balls on to straight runs and vice versa all night."

On those occasions when Southern Wesleyan was able to get the ball up to its dangerous forwards, Brewton-Parker sweeper Juan Henao, a junior from Medellin, Colombia, was able to run down the attacking player and shut him down.

"Juan has shown that he has the pace to keep up with even the speediest attacker," Moore said, also noting that goalkeeper Oscar Rodriguez, a junior from Santa Rosa, Colombia, also helped sweep the ball as he frequently came off his line to clear away dangerous balls.

The Barons' scoring started with freshman Early Jackson of St. Marys, who broke through with the ball catching the Warriors goalkeeper out of position for the opening tally. Later, senior Juan Castellanos of Bogotá, Colombia, finished off a corner with a spectacular bicycle kick for a 2-0 Brewton-Parker lead.

Jackson added to the cushion in the second half, marking the third time in as many outings when he has scored twice. Lee Powell, a junior from Rhondda Wales, had one assist as he continues to spark the BPC attack. Freshman Brian Yanful of London, Ontario, also had an assist.

The Barons' 11-2 victory at Toccoa Falls College earlier in the week was a great confidence-builder leading into the Southern Wesleyan match.

"Toccoa Falls is not a bad team," Moore said. "Their players are clearly well-schooled and they played hard."

In fact, Toccoa Falls came right out and shocked the Barons by scoring in the first minute of play. "They caught us on our heels and gave us a good wake-up call," Moore said.

The Barons responded by scoring seven unanswered goals over the next 10 minutes. "Our game plan was to pressure them the entire game and that is what we did," Moore said.

Powell had a double hat trick of three goals and three assists, while freshman Iain Thomson of London, Ontario, followed with two goals and three assists.

Senior Jason Ford of Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago, got two goals and an assist, while freshman Nick Reynolds of Richmond Hill and Jackson had two goals apiece.

"Our players know to give credit where credit is due," Moore said of the team's three-win streak. "God has truly had His hands on this team from the beginning, as long as our players keep in mind who it is that gives them the skills, talent and physical gifts needed to play intercollegiate soccer, they will be able to stay level-headed."

The Barons had just one match this week, playing Oglethorpe University on Tuesday night at a neutral site in Macon, and Brewton-Parker returns to GACC action Wednesday, Oct. 1, with a 7 p.m. contest at Shorter College in Rome.