Richard Bland Earns 3-2 Season-Opening Win Past Wake Tech

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. – Sophomore Sukrija Dudic/Richmond scored the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute to lead Richard Bland College to a 3-2 season-opening men's soccer triumph past visiting Wake Tech Community College on Thursday evening at Statesman Field. Classmate Sebastian Hendi/Alexandria and freshman Reuben Bosompem/Alexandria each added goals, as well, for the host Statesman (1-0) against the Eagles (0-1) in Region X Conference action. RBC will remain at home to host Spartanburg Methodist on Sunday afternoon, August 28, at 2 p.m. at Statesman Field.

"There is no easy game in this conference," said third-year head coach Eduardo de Souza. "We didn't play a good first half, but our depth proved itself today and we made some changes and connected more passes in the second half, and ended up winning the match 3-2. I applaud the guys in not giving up and keeping focused for the win today."

Wake Tech got on the scoreboard first when Alfonso Turcious scored in traffic inside the box, getting an assist from Blake Berry at 22:31.

Richard Bland answered quickly as Hendi received a nice pass from sophomore Rodrigo Carvalho/Lisbon, Portugal while racing down the middle of the field to beat the visiting goalkeeper one-on-one with a shot left and into the back of the net at 25:28.

The Eagles, however, scored again at 32:45 to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. Jean Oliver tallied the second goal for the visitors, assisted by David Carrasco.

The Statesmen didn't take much time to tie the match again with an early goal to open the second half. Freshman Peter Diawuo/Alexandria and sophomore Jeffrey Pineda/Los Angeles, Calif. played an excellent one-two layoff ball inside the box to Bosompem, who finished the play to the back of the net to make the score 2-2 at 55:04.

Dudic followed with what proved to be the game-winner at 62:06, finding the net on a rebound of his own penalty kick attempt that was saved, but got loose from the keeper. The PK resulted when freshman Hussein Osman/Charlottesville was knocked down in the box.

Freshman keeper Justin Ennis/Gainesville played the second half for RBC and recorded two saves over the final 45 minutes. Classmate Tomas Fonseca/Torres Vedras started in front of the net for the Statesmen, playing the first 45 minutes while making one save and allowing the two goals.

Richard Bland took a 13-5 advantage in shots against Wake Tech, including 10-5 in attempts on goal. The Statesmen also had a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.