CofC Men’s Soccer Pushes Battery to Scoreless Draw

Amateur Cougars prove themselves equal to professional Battery

CHARLESTON, SC March 22, 2013 – The College of Charleston men’s soccer team held the Charleston Battery scoreless as the Cougars pushed the professional side to a scoreless draw in a friendly at Patriots Point on Tuesday afternoon.

The Cougars packed it in defensively against the 2012 United Soccer League (USL) Champions and successfully neutralized their attack. The Battery, which entered the match on a six-match win streak, was denied the net for the first time in the spring preseason.

“This is such an encouraging result for our program,” said CofC head coach Ralph Lundy. “This group of players has put in so much time and energy this spring in an effort to improve every day. We have raised the expectations for each individual as well as our team as a collective unit, and the players have responded in a tremendous way.

“We now have three tough matches against Davidson, Winthrop and Georgia State to round out the spring. I want our players to transfer the valuable lessons we’ve learned playing against the professional teams to these three matches.”

Cougar keeper Kees Heemskerk (Zaandam, Netherlands) was tested often but was always up to the task and made several acrobatic saves to preserve the shutout. His finer saves included – but weren’t limited to – stifling a point-blank effort from a streaking Jose Cuevas and a fully extending to keep out a 30-yard blast from former Cougar Zach Prince.

Late in the match, the Cougars produced their finest offensive effort when Daan Brinkman (Amsterdam, Netherlands) sprung a run from his defensive back position and pushed into the attacking third. His run landed him at the goal mouth where he put a shot on the frame which beat Battery keeper Odisnel Cooper, but defender Colin Falvey was able to sweep it away before it crossed the line to preserve the draw.

“Daan’s play was unbelievable,” said Lundy. “He was always in position and had several key blocks and cut out some passes. Kees [Heemskerk] made some big saves and didn’t make a single mistake. Tam McGowan (Glasgow, Scotland) kept everyone organized as our center back. Connor Coons (Alpharetta, Ga.) was a key piece across the back line too. Troy Peterson (Federal Way, Wash.) stepped up in the midfield.”

The Cougars will spend the remainder of the spring set scrimmaging collegiate sides. They return to action when they host Davidson at Patriots Point on Saturday, April 6.