BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College men's soccer team won its first ever game under the lights on the new turf John Makuvek Field Wednesday evening with a 2-0 non-conference win over Immaculata University.
"I thought that we played a good game tonight," commented Head Coach Todd Ervin. "It was a great way to start our campaign on Makuvek Field. We played and moved the ball very well. I thought we were a little unlucky and we should have had a few more but their keeper made some good saves."
The Hounds, who are now 2-0 on the season, snapped the scoreless tie in the 58th minute when junior midfielder Connor Phillips blasted a 20-yard shot into the upper right corner of the net off of a touch pass from freshman midfielder Jack Dugan. The goal was Phillips' first of the season and the eighth of his career.
"Connor's goal was very well struck but the set up of the play itself was really stuff that we've been working on so to see that come out in a game is great, and he crushed that shot which was even better to see," Ervin said.
Moravian needed just over two minutes to score again when senior forward Saul Marcial ripped a short shot from the left side across the goalmouth and into the lower right side of the net inside the post in the 61st minute for his first goal of the season and the 10th of his career. Phillips set up the goal with a through ball to send Marcial in on goal.
"Saul was making a great run and Connor slipped a nice ball through to him," noted Ervin. "He was cool on the finish. We had two really good goals that I'm pleased with and hopefully something that will lead to more goals during the season."
The Blue and Grey had chances for more with junior midfielder Brett Lubben hitting the cross bar in the 64th minute, Phillips missing just high on a shot that needed to be saved in the 73rd minute and Marcial ripping a shot that also needed to be saved in the 85th minute.
Freshman goalie Matthew Miller made three saves for his first career shutout in his first ever start for the Hounds. Moravian had an 18-6 advantage in shots and a 12-5 edge in corner kicks on the evening.
Moravian is slated to return to action on Saturday, September 10 in a non-conference match at Wilkes University beginning at 2:30 p.m.
