ELKINS, W.Va. – Trailing 2-0 in the second half, the Davis & Elkins men's soccer team fired back with three unanswered tallies to stun visiting Notre Dame (Ohio) in a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon in the home opener at Nuttall Field.
D&E moved to 2-0 on the season, while Notre Dame (Ohio) falls to 0-1 in its season opener.
Filip Sparavec recorded both Falcons' markers, collecting one in each half, to put the visitors ahead 2-0.
Kenshiro Yamaguchi buried a set piece from
Martin Lago to put the Senators on the board before
Johnny Girard knotted the score with a tally nearly 10 minutes later.
Daniel Cerezo charged in and finished a cross from
Gianluca Fiorini for the game-winner in the 79th minute.
Jeremy Coste had three saves as the D&E defense tightened to limit NDC opportunities.
The first half of the game played out similar to the opener for D&E, with the Senators carrying play and holding a statistical edge in most categories. D&E trailed by one at the break before NDC added the second goal of the day in the 56th minute. That second marker for NDC came just after two attempts from Cerezo just moments earlier.
Yamaguchi found a free kick ball and slotted it to the right corner in the 63rd minute to start the comeback effort. Things got decidedly more chippy and physical and the NDC lead shrunk before Girard netted the equalizer in the 73rd minute.
Cerezo, who finished with six shots on the day, converted a crossing pass into the box to move D&E in front at 3-2. The Falcons were unable to record another chance as the Senators held on for the win.
D&E placed eight of its 13 shots on frame and owned a 5-1 edge in corners.
The Senators will return to action on Friday, March 19 for a road clash at West Liberty, beginning at 5:00 PM.
