Green makes eight saves; Bears play No. 12 Patriots straight up in respectable 2-0 setback

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. -- The veteran leadership of the Shawnee State men's soccer program on the defensive side of the pitch has been a strength for the Bears all season long.

Wednesday evening's contest against the No. 12 Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots' men's soccer program proved to be no different.

Senior goalkeeper and 2023 Third-Team All-RSC talent Eric Green made eight key saves while the combinations of Clement Akanyah, Sean Williams, Lars Van de Pol, Nikos Pontikis and Guilherme Bitencourt aided Green as well, as Shawnee State overcame a 19-5 shot advantage to remain in the thick of the fight throughout a 90-minute nonconference matchup. However, Cumberlands (Ky.)'s Mario Fernandez scored goals in the 35th and 43rd minutes of action, forcing the Bears to settle for a 2-0 deficit at halftime which ultimately was the final score at the UC Lacrosse and Soccer Complex in Williamsburg, Ky.

Despite the shot deficit, being whistled for 10 fouls to Cumberlands' eight, and receiving three yellow cards to none for the Patriots, Shawnee State held Cumberlands (Ky.) scoreless for the first 34 minutes of the match as Green and the defensive backline rendered it difficult for Cumberlands to score. Fernandez ultimately scored the game's opening salvo in the 35th frame, then caromed home a shot toward the opposite side of the net for a conversion in the 43rd after an initial save by Green.

Green, a Wheelersburg product who has been a consistent presence in goal for Shawnee State, made saves in the 14th, 15th, 24th, 31st, 38th and 41st minutes of play in the opening half alone, and also got credit for stopping Cumberlands attempts in the 72nd and 86th minutes of play as part of a clean second half for the Bears -- who also blocked four additional Patriot attempts in the stanza.

Offensively, Marco Riva proved to be active throughout the contest as the Como, Italy native amassed four shots on his own. His best opportunities came in the 18th minute on a run that just missed clearing, and was aggressively saved by, Javiero Izquierdo at the far side edge of the box, while his 33rd minute shot was just inches too high as the ball just cleared the crossbar. Another shot just out of the halftime break by Riva also just missed high, while follow up second-half attempts by Riva in the 51st and Bitencourt in the 62nd were stopped by Izquierdo.

Additional

Shawnee State (3-4-1) will turn its attention to a big Saturday evening matchup against (RV) Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at Shawnee Turf. That contest will begin at 6 p.m.