Robbie Matei of American University men's soccer runs on Reeves Field during a game.
1
American AU (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
2
Winner UNCW UNCW (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
American AU
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
1
Final
2
UNCW UNCW
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
American AU 1 0 1
UNCW UNCW 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Falls in Final Minutes to UNCW

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Despite the game being tied deep into the second half, it was the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks (1-0-0, 0-0-0 CAA) who scored the game-winner in the 88th minute to hand American University men's soccer (0-0-1, 0-0-0 Patriot League) a season-opening loss on the road. Senior Robbie Matei scored American's lone goal of the game, marking the fourth goal of his career.  

QUICK NOTABLES
  • Junior Sam Hershey, junior Taku Takahashi, and freshmen Reyes Parra made their debuts for the Eagles.
  • This is the second straight season that the Eagles and Seahawks have opened the season against each other. Last season's game saw a 0-0 draw to open the fall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Hershey took the first shot of the game in the eighth minute, but the Seahawks' goalkeeper made the save to keep the game scoreless early.
  • UNCW took the lead only minutes later after a yellow card on sophomore Matthew Tibbetts set up a penalty kick opportunity. The home team was able to send the ball by Tibbetts to take the early 1-0 lead.
  • Matei netted American's first goal of the season in the 29th minute to level the score 1-1.
  • Senior Ethan Boyle had two good chances halfway through the second half of the game to put the Eagles in the lead, but both were stopped by the Seahawks to keep the game 1-1.
  • Hershey took his second shot of the night in the 83rd minute, another good chance for American, but his shot went just wide and to the right.
  • With two minutes left to play, UNCW found the back of the net to secure the 2-1 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • The Seahawks just edged the Eagles in shots, 11-9. American held the 6-5 shot advantage in the first half while UNCW held the 6-3 shot advantage in the second half.
  • Four cards were given out in the game, three to the Eagles and one to the Seahawks.
  • Hershey, Matei, Boyle, and junior Miles Lam all recorded at least one shot in the game. Lam, Hershey, and Matei all recorded a shot on goal.  
  • Sophomore goalkeeper Matthew Tibbetts recorded four saves in the first game of the season.
  • Senior Cooper Nunn, junior Nicholas Shirley, senior Nevin Baer, and Tibbetts played all 90 minutes.  
UP NEXT
  • American will remain in North Carolina for a Sunday night contest in Chapel Hill, N.C. against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start.  
  • The Eagles will then return to DC for their home opener on Friday, Sept. 1 when VCU comes to Reeves Field.
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) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).
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