WEST POINT, N.Y. – An early first-half goal for senior Mattias Cooper was the difference as American University men's soccer defeated Army West Point 1-0 for the Eagles' second Patriot League win and first road win at Army since 2012. Cooper's goal was his first of the season and first as an Eagle. Sophomore Dilane Zouantcha recorded the assist while sophomore Dominic Dominguez picked up his first win and first clean sheet of the season.
 
QUICK NOTABLES

• The Eagles' win marks the first win for the program in West Point since 2012 when they won 3-2 in overtime. American has now won three straight against Army.
• American (4-3-3, 2-1-1) handed Army (4-3-3, 2-1-1) its first loss since Sept. 2 when the Black Knights fell 4-2 to Cleveland State. The loss is also the Black Knights' first Patriot League loss of the season.
• The win marks American's third shutout of the season and the first since the Eagles' 1-0 win over Old Dominion. The win over Army is American's first Patriot League shutout of the season.
• Sophomore Dominic Dominguez picked up his first win and clean sheet of the season. He recorded three saves in the win.
• Cooper is now the sixth Eagle to find the back of the net for American this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• American had its first chance of the game to find the back of the net in the fourth minute off a shot by sophomore Zemi Rodriguez, but his shot went high and to the right of the goal.
• A few minutes later, it was senior Damian Searchwell who tried to give American the lead off a header directed towards the back of the net, but Army's goalkeeper made the stop.
• Army had a chance to take the early lead in the 12th minute but Dominguez picks up the save to keep the score even at zero.
• In the 18th minute it was Cooper, off an assist from Zouantcha, who found the back of the net for American and broke the scoreless tie.
• The Black Knights put forth a last minute shot in the final minute of the first half but the cross went just wide and to the right of the goal.
• Army had a chance at the start of the second half to even the score but the shot skimmed the left outside of the box and roll out to keep American in the lead.  
• The Eagles had back-to-back shots in the 55th minute from Zouantcha and senior Damian Searchwell but both were blocked by the Black Knight's defense.
• Freshman Troy Elgersma almost netted his second goal of the season in the 73rd minute off a cross by junior Nevin Baer but he sent the ball just to the right of the goal.
• Dominguez came up with a huge save in the final minutes of the game to keep Army off the board and send American back to Washington, D.C. with the win. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• American held the 14-11 shot advantage in the game. The Eagles outshot the Black Knights 7-5 in the first half and outshot the Black Knights in the 7-6 second half. The Eagles also held the shots on goal advantage for the game 5-3.
• Army held the 8-2 corner kick advantage. Army held American to no corner kicks in the first half, not allowing the Eagles to secure their first corner until the 56th minute.
• Two yellow cards were handed out in the game, both to Army West Point.
• Searchwell, Zouantcha, Cooper, Elgersma, and junior Robbie Matei each recorded two shots in the game. Rodriguez, Baer, junior Nevin Baer and junior Ethan Boyle each recorded a shot. Cooper registered a team-leading two shots on goal.

UP NEXT

• American remains on the road on Saturday, Oct. 8 for a 2 p.m. game at Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y.
• The Eagles will then return home for two games, a nonconference test on Tuesday, Oct. 11 against James Madison University and a Patriot League game on Saturday, Oct. 15 against Holy Cross.

FOLLOW US

• For the latest on American University Men's Soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_MSoccer), Facebook (/AU.MSoccer) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).