The Campbell men’s soccer coaches with the senior players.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
BUIES CREEK — Eren Elbustu scored two goals and set up to more Monday to lead Campbell to an 8-0 victory over Longwood at the Eakes Athletic Complex.
Dylan Sadler came off the bench to add a pair of goals for the Camels (13-2-2, 7-0 Big South), who improved to 10-0-1 in their last 11 matches and stayed on top of the league table.
On a night when the Camels celebrated the contributions of five seniors, Campbell posted its largest goal output and win margin since a 9-0 victory over Augusta on Nov. 10, 1986 in the Big South tournament quarterfinal round.
The Camels ran their home record to 8-0-1 and ran their goal differential to 27-2 in Buies Creek. While moving to 21 points in the Big South standings, the Camels have outscored their league foes by a 31-5 margin, including a 28-4 distance in the last five league games.
“The guys wanted to put in a good performance for the seniors,” said Campbell coach Dustin Fonder. “They were professional in their approach – playing both halves with the same energy level. Goals change games, and we were able to get back-to-back goals early on. That allows you to keep playing confident, free-flowing soccer.”
Ranked No.-9 in this week’s South Region poll, Campbell posted its seventh shutout in nine matches this season at the Eakes Complex.
Elbustu nearly had an assists hat trick on a night when the Camels led by seven before the Lancers (5-9, 0-6) were able to get their first shot on target.
Samuel Lechuga and senior Matt Karasinski divided the night in the Camel nets to post CU’s Big South-leading ninth shutout of the season – which is tied for the fifth-most in the country.
Elbustu set up CU’s first goal in the 11th minute but did not earn an assist when he whipped in a low cross that Longwood keeper Jacob Reimers deflected up, but right at the head of Jalen James, who nodded in the clearance for his first career goal.
Starting in the place of the nation’s second-leading scorer Thibaut Jacquel (15 goals, 34 points), Elbustu again served as provider when he linked with Ian Rees on short passes in the Longwood box just five minutes later and Matt Lock finished the sequence with a well-placed bending ball that curled just inside the right post.
Less than three minutes later, the Camel lead was three thanks to Elbustu’s 19-yard free kick that curled over the wall and left Reimers flat-footed on his line.
Adrian Morales came off the bench and scored for the fourth time this season on a right-footed effort through traffic at the top of the area in the 37th minute to match Campbell’s largest offensive output in one half this season.
CU extended the margin with three more goals in the first 13:54 of the second period. Sadler nodded in Lock’s corner kick in the 53rd minute before Elbustu scored for the sixth time this season in the 57th on a volley off Franck Momo’s short cross.
Elbustu then fed Rees for a right-footed blast outside the box in the 59th. Sadler finished his third goal of the campaign – all on headers from corner kicks – in the 72nd minute thanks to Caleb Martinez’ service.
Campbell finished with a 14-4 margin in shots, but 10 of those were on target — and another — Elbustu’s header in the opening half – skimmed off the cross bar.
“Our goal every night is to keep a shutout,” said Fonder. “It starts from our front line to our back and goalkeeping, and I think tonight all units were solid.”
Monday’s victory sets up a potential battle for the Big South regular-season crown Saturday in Campbell’s regular season finale at High Point (7 p.m.). The Panthers stand 11-5 overall, 6-0 in league action, with two Big South contests remaining.
Campbell has already clinched a first-round bye in the Big South Championship and will host a semifinal match on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7:00 p.m.
NOTES: Five Camel seniors — Gideon Betz, Edward Fulwood, Matt Karasinski, Aigbekan Nosegbe and Ian Rees — made their final regular-season home appearances Monday night… Campbell’s 13-2-2 record through 17 matches is the team’s best start since the 1993 squad opened 14-3.
Ian Rees strikes for a Campbell goal on Monday in an 8-0 win.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Dylan Sadler heads the ball into the net for the Camels.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Senior goalie Matt Karasinski contributed 45 minutes to the shutout.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Campbell seniors, from left, are Matt Karasinski, Edward Fulwood, Gideon Betz, Ian Rees and Aigbekan Nosegbe.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
