College of Charleston
Stanford
CofC M. Soccer Succumbs to Stanford
9/21/2013 5:06:00 AM | Men's Soccer
STANFORD, Calif. –Stanford junior forward Zach Batteer netted a pair of goals to give the Cardinal a 2-0 edge over the College of Charleston men's soccer team at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium on Friday night.
The Cougars (1-4 overall) complete the West Coast swing with a match against No. 4 California on Sunday, Sept. 22 before returning home to open their inaugural Colonial Athletic Association in-conference season.
Batteer entered the match tied for the Cardinal team-high in goals, and his brace on Friday night was the decisive difference in a rematch of last year's bout – a 2-1 overtime victory for CofC at Patriots Point.
He was opportunistic in just the second minute of the game when Aaron Kovar sent a long throw-in into the box and Matt Taylor headed it across the goal mouth to Batteer who was waiting at the far post and finished to give the Cardinal the early advantage.
“This was a tough game against a good side,” said head coach Ralph Lundy. “I thought Stanford started faster than we did and going down a goal early really hurt. We responded well in the second half and created some good chances; unfortunately we didn't put any away.
“Overall we are making progress forward and look forward to another challenge on Sunday.”
The Cardinal picked up its insurance goal in the 61st minute when Jordan Morris dribbled the ball to the endline and centered it to Batteer who tapped it in for his second of the night and fourth of the season.
After a 14-2 shot disadvantage in the opening half, the Cougars leveled the playing field to result in a more-manageable 20-10 deficit at the final whistle.
The Cougars produced a flurry of chances late in the match with three late shot attempts and a pair of corner kicks in the closing minutes, but Stanford thwarted each effort to preserve the shutout.
Ryan McLaughlin (Westerville, Ohio) made his collegiate debut in goal and made five saves in the contest.
The Cougars challenge No. 4 California on Sunday with kickoff on Goldman Field at Edwards Stadium slated for 6:30 p.m. (EST). The Golden Bears took down Colgate, 3-0, to improve to 4-0-1 heading into Sunday's match.
The Cougars ignite the CAA era against UNC on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Patriots Point.
