Friday, Oct. 11– The Rhodes Men's Soccer team achieved a 1-0 win against the Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels on Friday, October 11, 2024 in Atlanta, GA. Ben Novello scored the lone goal of the match in the 62th minute after taking it past the keeper off the dribble after an assist from Will Keeney. This goal marked Novello's third of the year.
Match Recap: Rhodes vs. Oglethorpe
The Lynx, currently ranked No. 4 in the region, were facing a strong, regionally-ranked, Oglethorpe team (5-2-4). With the win, Rhodes handed Oglethorpe their first home loss of the season and also broke their 5 game winning streak. An electric game held each team to three shots on target with the Lynx defense providing a suffocating defensive performance.
This heated match up saw a tale of two halves. The Lynx dominated the first half with 6 shots, hitting the post off of one after a piece of genius by Luke Grant. However both teams went into the break scoreless. The Petrels were very dangerous in the second half threatening 9 shots, only 2 of which were on target. To ensure the Lynx would avoid the draw, "Big" Ben Novello made the most of his opportunity in the middle of the second and slotted one away to take the lead. The Lynx had to come up big defensively late into the match with some threatening chances by the Petrels to ultimately get the shut out.
Team Statistics:
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Rhodes College: 8 total shots (3 on goal), 3 saves, 3 corner kicks.
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Oglethorpe: 10 total shots (3 on goal), 2 saves, 2 corner kicks.
The Lynx are now 2-0 in conference, winning their last 5 matches. The Lynx have a short turn-around before their next match against the Berry Vikings, Sunday, October 13th. Despite the win, the Lynx look to continue building on their performance and playing with unity for the remainder of their conference games.
More Facts
This is Ben Novello's third goal of the season, making him the team leader.
This was Will Kenney's second assist of the season.
6 Lynx Freshman made appearances in today's match.
This was the Lynx defense's sixth shutout of the season.
Looking Forward: Rhodes vs. Berry College
The Lynx now shift their focus to their upcoming match against the Berry College Vikings on Sunday, October 13th, 2024, in Mount Berry, GA. The match will be streamed live. This game marks a storied match up between these teams.
Historical Match up Overview:
Rhodes has an extensive history with Berry, displaying a record of 5-11-4 over their previous meetings.
Head-to-Head History (Oct. 16, 2010 - Oct. 28, 2023):
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Wins: 5
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Losses: 11
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Ties: 4
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Home Record: 4-4-2
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Away Record: 1-5-2
As Rhodes prepares for this crucial conference game, the team is focused on fine-tuning their game and maintaining their identity for this match. Fans and supporters are encouraged to follow the Lynx as they continue their season with determination and grit.
Next Match: Conference Play
Location: Mount Berry, GA - Bob Pearson Field
