Richard Bland Takes Non-Region Shutout Past USC Sumter 6-0

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Freshman Davi Girardi/São Paulo, Brazil scored two goals, while sophomore Alex Vazquez/Chester along with freshmen Umar Mujahid/Meherrin, Uziel Hernandez/The Villages, Florida and David Negrin/Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain each added one goal, to lead Richard Bland College to a 6-0 men's soccer victory past USC Sumter on Thursday afternoon at Statesman Soccer Field.  Sophomore Jamie McAvoy/Ayr, Scotland had two assists, while Girardi and sophomore Hussein Osman/Charlottesville each contributed one assist for the host Statesmen (4-0) against the visiting Fire Ants (1-1).  Richard Bland will remain home at Statesman Soccer Field for a Region X match against Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) College on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. 

"Our group knows that every game is an opportunity to prove themselves," said fourth-year head coach Eduardo de Souza.  "Dedication, hard work and strong character are basics in this program.  Everyone can contribute to the team's success.  We remain humble and continue taking one game at a time."

Richard Bland led just 1-0 at the intermission, after Girardi scored on a header from a corner kick by McAvoy at 29:41.  Girardi added another goal early in the second half, his team-leading sixth goal of the season, at 49:07 with an assist inside the box from Osman.  Mujahid made it a 3-0 contest at 53:38, getting an assist from Girardi in the box, once-again.  It was Mujahid's first collegiate goal.

The Statesmen increased the margin to 4-0 when Hernandez added his second goal of the season at 60:44, collecting a rebound off the post following a shot from McAvoy, who gained his team-leading fifth assist on the campaign.  Vazquez scored his second goal in as many matches at 76:04 to make it a 5-0 contest, finishing a loose ball in the box to the back of the net.  Negrin added the final goal at 81:33, his collegiate-first, promptly placing a free kick over the keeper's head to the upper 90 for the final six-goal margin.

Sophomore keeper Tomás Fonseca/Torres Vedras, Portugal started in front of the net for Richard Bland and played the first 45 minutes, while freshman Almir Menezes/São Paulo, Brazil played the final 45 minutes as the duo combined for the unbeaten squad's second shutout of the season.

Richard Bland took a 23-1 advantage in shots against USC Sumter, including 15-0 in attempts on goal.  The Statesmen had an 11-2 edge in corner kicks.

It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools in the sport of men's soccer, as Richard Bland now leads the series at 1-0.