BUIES CREEK — Six different players scored and Campbell ran its win streak to four matches Wednesday in a 6-0 victory over VMI at the Eakes Athletic Complex.
Gabe Parrish, Bastien Oberli, J.J. Donnelly, Aigbekan Nosegbe, Mario Da Silva and Alex Egeonu all hit the net for the Camels (4-2), who have outscored their opponents by a 19-3 margin in the stretch. Thibaut Jacquel and Matt Lock each had two assists for Campbell, which finished with a 30-3 advantage in shots, including a 14-1 margin in attempts on target.
VMI (0-6) trailed by a lone goal — Parrish’s fifth minute strike — at halftime, but the Camels erupted for five goals in the final period.
“Tonight was a big challenge for us because we don’t typically start matches this time of the year at 5 p.m., and the (90 degree) heat made us a little lethargic,” said Campbell coach Dustin Fonder. “Our minds were right and the attitude was good, but we were a step off all day. Still, our depth is one of our strengths and we feel like we can get goals from anybody any night.”
Nosegbe, Da Silva and Egeonu all scored off the Campbell bench. Eleven different players have accounted for Campbell’s 20 goals this season and only Donnelly (3) has scored more than twice.
Parrish put CU ahead early with his first goal this season. Jacquel struck a low shot through traffic that VMI keeper Broden Schull was able to dive for the initial save. However, Parrish pounced on the loose ball and gave CU a 1-0 edge just 4:15 into the match.
It took more than 50 minutes for the Camels to add to the score. Donnelly was taken down in the area by Willson Tuck and Oberli calmly sent Schull the wrong way on the ensuing penalty in the 55th minute.
Just over six minutes later, Donnelly was on the final end of an attack. Oberli split the VMI back line with a pass and Jacquel hit Donnelly in stride with a low cross. The senior striker’s right-footed blast hit both the left and right post before crossing the line for a 3-0 Camel lead.
VMI’s best chance of the evening came in the 71st minute when Justin Riescher’s right-footed effort missed less than a foot high and wide of the top right corner of the net.
Two goals in a 55 second span after 77 minutes sealed the victory for the Camels. Nosegbe finished a build up from Lock via Da Silva in the 78th minute. Da Silva then scored his first goal of the season in the 79th after linking with Alemu Mercer-Miko on a one-two pass in the area.
Lock’s pass put Egeonu alone behind the VMI defense in the 86th minute for a breakaway goal.
Campbell keeper Samuel Lechuga made one save while registering his second-straight shutout.
With the approach of Hurricane Florence, Campbell’s match vs. Navy in Buies Creek scheduled for Saturday afternoon has been cancelled. The Camels will travel to George Mason for a 7 p.m. kickoff Monday (Sept. 17).
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
