Richard Bland Welcomes Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) Saturday
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Richard Bland College welcomes Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) College in Region X men's soccer action on Saturday afternoon, September 9, at 4 p.m. at the Statesman Soccer Field. The anticipated contest completes a stretch of four-straight home games to open the campaign for the unbeaten Statesmen (4-0, 3-0 Region X) versus the visiting Pioneers (2-2, 2-2 Region X).
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Richard Bland vs. Spartanburg Methodist
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2017
Time: 4 p.m.
Live Stats: rbcathletics.com
Location: Statesman Soccer Field
Series History: 1-8-1
Scouting the Statesmen
Richard Bland is 4-0 overall, including 3-0 in Region X, following a 6-0 home shutout past USC Sumter on Sept. 6. The Statesmen, who received votes in this week's NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer Poll for only the second time in the five-year program's history, are coached by fourth-year head coach Eduardo de Souza, and assisted by second-year assistant coach Nick Surkamp. Richard Bland, averaging 4.25 goals per game, has been led in scoring by freshman Davi Girardi/São Paulo, Brazil with six goals, including three game-winners, and one assist totaling 13 points. Sophomores Hussein Osman/Charlottesville (two goals, one assist) and Jamie McAvoy/Ayr, Scotland (five assists) each add five points to the attack. Sophomore keeper Tomás Fonseca/Torres Vedras, Portugal has started all four matches and played 315 minutes in front of the net with one shutout, a 0.57 goals against average and four saves for a save percentage of .667 percent.
Series History
Richard Bland and Spartanburg Methodist are meeting for the 11th time in the sport of men's soccer. The Pioneers lead the all-time series, 8-1-1, including two one-goal regular season wins last fall. The Statesmen dropped a 2-1 decision last August 28 at home, before Spartanburg Methodist took a 3-2 decision last Sept. 10 in South Carolina. However, No. 5 seed Richard Bland battled the No. 2 Pioneers to a 1-1 double-overtime tie in last year's Region X Tournament Championship, before Statesmen won the title in a PK Shootout, 4-2, to claim their first-ever Region X Tournament Title.
2016 NJCAA Region X Tournament Champions
Richard Bland completed 2016 with the finest season in the four-year history of the program, posting a final overall record of 12-7-2, including its first-ever Region X Tournament Championship and advancing to the NJCAA Division I Southeast District Tournament semifinals.
Up Next
Richard Bland will play on the road for the first time this season with a pair of Region X matches next week, including at Cape Fear Community College on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 4 p.m. in Wilmington, North Carolina and at in-state rival Patrick Henry Community College on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 3 p.m. in Martinsville.