DUDIC SCORES TWICE, MEN'S SOCCER WINS OPENER 2-0 OVER USC LANCASTER

PETERSBURG, Va., (August 22, 2015) – Freshman forward Sukrija Dudic scored his first two intercollegiate goals in the first half, which proved to be more than enough offense for the Richard Bland men's soccer team, as the Statesmen opened its 2015 season with a 2-0 shutout victory over USC Lancaster in a Region X Conference game played at Statesmen Field.

The victory starts the season in the right direction for the Statesmen, who will have little time to rejoice. Richard Bland will be back in action on Sunday, August 23 with a 2:00 p.m. contest against Union County College at Statesmen Field.

Dudic's got his, and the season's first goal, early in the first stanza, converting off a short feed from sophomore forward Godfred Obed-Baisel. Later on in the first half, sophomore defender Isael Diaz-Sanchez found freshman Lorenzo Romero on the wing who sent a beautiful lob pass to Dudic. The forward expertly found the back of the net for the second time in the half to increase the Statesmen lead 2-0, a margin that held throughout the second half.

During the first half the Statesmen found themselves in a predicament when sophomore captain Adam Belkorchi was red carded out of the game. "The red card turned things around a bit, but it happens in the game and you need to be prepared," said Dudic. "I am happy to get the first three points in the conference. This team has a lot of potential this season."

Freshman goalkeeper Ciro Labrada recorded eight saves in the shutout victory, following up on a 2-0 shutout performance in Wednesday's scrimmage against Averett University. "It's not all on me," said Labrada. "It's teamwork. I have a great defense that stepped up and helped me defend the goal."