Richard Bland Hosts Defending National Champs Louisburg Tuesday
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. – Richard Bland College welcomes defending NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Champion Louisburg (N.C.) College in Region X Conference action on Tuesday afternoon, September 6, at Statesman Field beginning at 4 p.m. The Statesmen (3-1-0, 2-1-0 Region X) will be looking for their third-straight win overall, and first-ever, against the visiting Hurricanes (1-0-0, 1-0-0 Region X). Admission is free to all RBC men's soccer home matches.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Richard Bland vs. Louisburg
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Statesman Field
Series History: Hurricanes lead 8-0
Scouting the Statesmen
RBC is 3-1-0 overall, including 2-1-0 in Region X, and enjoying its finest start to a season in the four-year history of the program after a 2-0 road win at Cape Fear (N.C.) Community College on Sept. 3. The Statesmen are coached by head coach Eduardo de Souza, who is in his third season, while assisted by first-year assistant coach Nick Surkamp. RBC has been led in scoring through four matches by sophomore Sebastian Hendi/Alexandria with three goals for six points, and classmate Sukrija Dudic/Richmond with two goals and four points. Sophomore Rodrigo Carvalho/Lisbon, Portugal and freshman Reuben Bosompem/Alexandria each add one goal and one assist for three points. Freshman keeper Justin Ennis/Gainesville has started three of four matches in front of the net, playing 287:58 with one shutout, a 0.63 goals against average and nine saves for a save percentage of .818.
Scouting the Hurricanes
LC is 1-0-0 overall, including 1-1-0 in Region X after its 1-0 home win past USC Salkehatchie on Sept. 3. The Hurricanes are coached by head coach Martin Dell, who is in his third season, while assisted by Ted Awana. LC finished 24-1 overall during its national championship season a year ago. Freshman James Fergany scored the lone goal in the opener last weekend, while sophomore Andrea Viano added the assist. Freshman keeper Gio Solis played in goal for the Hurricanes, posting the shutout.
Series History
Louisburg leads the all-time series between the two schools in the sport of men's soccer, 8-0. The Hurricanes have outscored RBC by a margin of 54-6 in the eight previous matches. The Statesmen, however, fell just 1-0 at Louisburg last October 25, 2015, before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Hurricanes in a Region X Tournament Semifinal in Wilmington, N.C. less than a week later on Oct. 31, 2015.
Last Time Out
Freshman Miguel Ramos/Casal de Cambra, Portugal and sophomore Tulia Graciano/Cacapava, Brazil each scored goals to lead RBC to the 2-0 road shutout at Cape Fear in Region X play. Freshmen Dusan Stankovic/Belgrade, Serbia and Bosompem each added assists for the visiting Statesmen against the host Sea Devils. Ennis started and played the entire 90 minutes in front of the net for RBC, recording one save while posting his first collegiate shutout.
Up Next
RBC will play its second road match of the season at Region X foe Spartanburg (S.C.) Methodist College on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 2 p.m., and will be looking to avenge a 2-1 home setback to the Pioneers on August 28. The Statesmen will return home early next week to host NCAA Division III opponent North Carolina Wesleyan on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Statesman Field at 4 p.m.