CU men’s soccer wins in OT on Jacquel’s second goal

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Sep 29, 2019 | Campbell, News & Features

Thibault Jacquel (right) is in position to net the game winner.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

BUIES CREEK — Thibaut Jacquel scored his second goal of the match in the third minute of overtime to lift Campbell to a 2-1 victory over Radford Saturday night in the Big South Conference opener for both teams at the Eakes Complex.

Matt Lock dribbled into the area and sent a hard, low pass across the face of the goal. Moses Mensah kept the ball in play and sent it back in front of the goal where Radford keeper Joseba Incera got a hand on it, but was unable to hold on. Jacquel beat three Radford defenders to the loose ball for his seventh goal of the year.

Campbell (6-2-1, 1-0 Big South) won its third-straight match and sixth in the last seven outings. Radford (1-5-2, 0-1) is winless in its last six contests (0-4-2).

The Camels improved to 5-0 at home this year and have out-scored their opponents in Buies Creek by a 13-1 margin. Victor Valls’ 62nd-minute equalizer ended a 421-minute shutout streak for the Camel defense on its home ground.

Adrian Morales nearly put the home side ahead in the sixth minute when he headed Franck Momo’s cross on target, but Radford right back Bryan Scoffield cleared the ball off the line.

Campbell went in front through Jacquel in the 12th minute. Matt Lock lofted a pass down the middle that Jacquel’s first touch took him around Incera; then he slotted home his sixth goal (and third in the last two games).

Radford’s best opportunity in the opening half came after 23 minutes when Baye Djibril Faye’s dipping left footed shot outside the area

In the 54th minute, Faye’s left-footed effort drew a diving save from Camel keeper Samuel Lechuga.

The equalizer was set up when Valls lifted a pass to Dondre Robinson, who nodded the ball on to Valls at the top of the area for his first goal of the season and ended a 242-minute overall shutout streak for the Camel defense.

Robinson’s 80th minute shot from a sharp angle on the left side forced a diving save from Lechuga to keep the score tied.

Lock again caused problems in the 85th minute when he sharply-hit low cross to the near post was almost deflected into the Radford net by a Highlander defender.

Campbell pressured from the outset and Incera was forced to parry right back Franck Momo’s heavy shot from outside the box for a corner kick.

The Camels finished with a 17-6 edge in shots and took eight corner kicks to eight for the visitors. Lechuga and Incera each finished with three saves.

Campbell returns to action Tuesday in a 7 p.m. start at Wofford before returning to Big South play next Saturday (Oct. 5) at home against USC Upstate at 7 p.m.

(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)