Robbie Matei
1
George Mason GMU (0-2-0, 0-0-0)
2
Winner American AME (2-0-1, 0-0-0)
George Mason GMU
(0-2-0, 0-0-0)
1
Final
2
American AME
(2-0-1, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
George Mason GMU 1 0 1
American AME 0 2 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Matei’s 86th Minute Goal Completes American's Comeback Over George Mason

WASHINGTON –  American University men's soccer (2-0-1) defeated George Mason (0-2-0) in comeback fashion on Friday at Reeves, netting two goals late in the second half to earn the 2-1 victory. Sophomore Zemi Rodriguez scored the Eagles' first of the game in the 74th minute while junior Robbie Matei netted the game-winner in the 86th minute.
 
QUICK NOTABLES
  • The Eagles remain undefeated three games into the 2022 season. They have won two straight games after opening the season with a 0-0 draw against the University of North Carolina Wilmington.  
  • Rodriguez's goal was his first of the season and the third of his career.
  • Matei's goal was his second of the season and the fifth of his career. The goal also marked the second-straight game-winner for the junior, as he also netted the Eagles' game-winner in their 1-0 win at Old Dominion last Sunday.
  • Graduate student Jerry Zouantcha and junior Evan Schweickert each recorded their first assist of the season. Zouantcha had the assist on Rodriguez's goal while Schweickert recorded the assist on Matei's goal.
  • Friday's win is the second straight win for the Eagles against George Mason and their first win against the Patriots at Reeves since 2018.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • George Mason struck early in the first half after Ahmed Mohamed found the back of the net in the ninth minute to give the Patriots the early 1-0 lead.
  • American had its first chance to even the score in the 14th minute off a shot by senior Mattias Cooper but the ball was stopped by Mason's goalkeeper, Jake Langley, to keep the visitors in the lead.
  • Rodriguez followed up Cooper's shot just a few seconds later to try to even the score but the ball was one again stopped by Langley.  
  • The Patriots made an attempt to extend their lead with less than four minutes to play in the first half but the shot went wide and to the right, sending the game into the second half with the Eagles down by one.
  • Freshman Troy Elgersma had the Eagles' first chance in the second half to get on the scoreboard, but Langley made the save and Mason countered with a shot of its own, missing the net to keep the score at 1-0.
  • In the 74th minute, Zouantcha fired a shot towards the Patriot's goal and the ball was deflected off the hands of Langley right onto the foot of Rodriguez who took a shot and found the back of the net for the Eagles to even the score 1-1.
  • A few minutes later, in the 87th minute, it was Matei off an assist by Schweickert, who put the ball in the upper righthand corner of the net to give the Eagles the 2-1 comeback victory.
POSTGAME WITH COACH SAMOL
 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Eight cards were handed out over the 90 minutes. Three were given to the Eagles and five were given to the Patriots.
  • The Eagles' defense was solid in the second half, holding the Patriots to just two shots and none on goal. 
UP NEXT
  • Up next for the Eagles is a trip to Morgantown, W.Va. for a Tuesday night matchup with the Mountaineers. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.
  • They will then return to Reeves for a matchup with Longwood on Saturday, Sept. 10 before hitting the road for their Patriot League opener at Lehigh on Friday, Sept. 16.
KEEP UP WITH 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).
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