No. 16 Richard Bland Avenges Only Loss At Louisburg (N.C.) 5-3

LOUISBURG, N.C. -- Nationally-ranked No. 16 Richard Bland College jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and led 5-1 at the intermission en route to a 5-3 Region X men's soccer road victory at rival Louisburg (N.C.) College on Wednesday evening in Louisburg, North Carolina.  Sophomore Dusan Stankovic/Belgrade, Serbia, along with freshmen Davi Girardi/São Paulo, Brazil, Uziel Hernandez/The Villages, Florida, Umar Mujahid/Meherrin and David Negrin/Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, each scored as well for the visiting Statesmen (12-1, 10-1 Region X) against the host Hurricanes (6-4, 6-2 Region X).  Richard Bland returns home to host in-state region rival Patrick Henry Community College on Saturday, October 7, at 4 p.m. at the Statesman Soccer Field.

"When our team comes out focused and with the right attitude, we can play great games," said fourth-year head coach Eduardo de Souza.  "Our first half was very strong, but we also know that in soccer, everything can change around if we don't do the basics.  Our group won the game today.  It was a full, collective effort and we are proud of the guys.  Now we must focus on our next game on Saturday." 

Richard Bland took control of the contest early as Girardi opened the scoring in the 12^th minute with an assist from freshman Ervin Ikanovic/Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina.  Mujahid made it 2-0 in the 20^th minute, assisted by Hernandez.  Stankovic added to the advantage with his goal in the 28^th minute, gaining another assist from Ikanovic.  Hernandez scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 30^th minute, assisted by sophomore Agustin Vassallo/Neuquen, Argentina, making it a 4-0 match.  Louisburg scored its first goal in the 34^th minute, but the Statesmen answered back with their fifth goal of the half in the 39^th minute … scored by Negrin with an assist from sophomore Hussein Osman/Charlottesville, and it was 5-1 at the break.

Louisburg, who had dealt Richard Bland its only loss this season just over a week ago (2-1 in OT, September 30), added two quick goals in the second half in the 50^th and 51^st minutes, respectively, to narrow the margin to 5-3.  That was as close as the Hurricanes would get, however, as the Statesmen would not yield any further goals toward the important road victory, while also avenging their only setback this fall.  It was also the first time that Richard Bland has ever won at Louisburg in the sport of men's soccer.

Sophomore keeper Tomás Fonseca/Torres Vedras, Portugal started in front of the net for Richard Bland and played the entire contest with four saves.

Louisburg does continue to lead the all-time series between the two schools in men's soccer, 11-2.

Richard Bland won the first meeting this season at Patrick Henry by a score of 4-0 on Sept. 16.