Danville, Ky. - The Centre Colonels picked up their biggest win of the young season on Saturday as late heroics propelled the team by (RV) Denison, 2-0.
Both teams struggled for quality looks in the first half as both defenses proved solid in their own 18-yard boxes. Denison's first shot on goal came in the 31st minute with Centre doing the same just 1:52 later. Both shots were saved and cleared away with no second chance opportunities. The chances proved the only ones the rest of the way as the game went to the half still scoreless.
Declan Miller provided some foreshadowing for the rest of his day in net with key saves in the 54th and 58th minutes as the Big Red grew more and more frustrated. Centre was able to withstand the field control from Denison and would turn it on the Big Red. In the 75th minute,
Jafet Figueroa played a corner into the box. The Denison keeper fumbled the ball, causing it to pop into the air.
Ryan Hesseltine found himself in the right spot and let loose a brilliant header to the upper right corner of the net. The freshman's first collegiate goal gave the Colonels the lead. With freshman, one often gets a moment of brilliance and soon a head-scratcher. Centre saw this as Hesseltine brought down a Denison player in the Centre box less than 2 minutes later. The foul set up a massive penalty.
Declan Miller cleared his head and guessed right with a diving stab to his right to deny Denison the equalizer. He would make another key save in the 88th minute to preserve the lead.Â
All the Colonels had to do was salt the clock away.
Will Sweet and
Ryan O'Hara wanted more. In the final minute, Sweet took possession at midfield and in his attempt to clear the ball and burn clock, he found O'Hara in open space. O'Hara was able to get by a defender to go 1v1 with the Big Red keeper. The move paid off as O'Hara swatted a left footer right by the keeper and into the net to seal the 2-0 win.
The Colonels will have a quick turnaround as Hanover comes to Amend Field on Tuesday night starting at 7:00pm.
