Chowan soccer teams rout Erskine

Published 8:55 am Thursday, October 6, 2022

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MURFREESBORO – The goals came early and often here Monday.

Chowan University’s soccer teams each posted lopsided wins vs. Erskine in Conference Carolinas action. The women’s team scored the most goals since September of 2017 as the Hawks cruised to a 7-0 victory. The men’s team scored seven goals in the opening 45 minutes as the Hawks routed their guests, 9-2.

In the women’s game, Natasha Bailey and Regan Jackson led the Hawks with two goals each. Ysa Novak, Lieke Van den Akker, and C’nya Stevens scored once.

Van den Akker and Cristina Flores collected two assists each, while Natasha Bailey and Elena Butcher each posted one assist.

Chowan outshot Erskine 31-2 in the contest, while holding the Fleet to their first shot attempts in the 90′.

Novak would put the Hawks on the board after a long corner kick was settled by Novak. The defender would curl the ball from the right side of the box and clear the goal line in the 8′.

The goals would come fast after the 20′ as Van den Akker sent a through ball that was collected by Jackson for the 2-0 lead. A mere 31 seconds later, Van den Akker found Bailey for a goal that would hit the underside of the crossbar and went in.

In the 25′, Flores sent in a corner that was put into the back of the net by Bailey. Bailey would then assist Jackson for a goal in the 27′ off a corner to put the Hawks up 5-0.

The Hawks finished off the half with another goal as Butcher found Stevens in the box off a corner in the 42′.

In the second half, Flores slid a ball wide to Van den Akker in the 53′ that allowed Van den Akker to chip the keeper from the top of the box and find the right side netting for the 7-0 lead.

As both teams emptied their benches for substitutions, the Hawks dominated possession.

Erskine would post their only two shot attempts in the 90′ that was easily corralled by the Chowan keeper.

The Chowan women used the win to improve to 3-6-1 overall and 3-2-1 in league play.

Later on Monday, the Chowan men saw their record improve to 4-4-2 overall (4-1-1 in the conference) during the easy win over Erskine.

Chowan’s seven goals in the first half were the most since October 2014 when the Hawks scored eight in a win over Ohio Valley.

Tren Drexhage and James Randall paced the Hawks with two goals and one assist. Bradley Binns and Ausar Omwenga collected one goal and two assists. Harri Lovett tallied one goal and one assist.

Jayce Graves and Marlone Nadjeu scored one goal, while Dennis Bates notched one assist.

Erskine would jump out in front just 1:47 into the match as an Erskine attacker slipped in and scored for the early 1-0 lead.

The Hawks would settle in as on a set corner as Binns and Lovett sent in the corner kick that found the head of Drexhage for the early equalizer in the 10′. The score would not stay level long as Binns found Randall on the left side for a tap-in goal to lead 2-1 in the 11′.

In the 24′, Omwenga tried to slide a pass over to Drexhage in the middle of the box but was deflected off a defender allowing Drexhage to head home the pass for the goal.

Omwenga would find the back of the net in the 35′ as his attempt on the breakaway was successful finding the left post for the 4-1 lead. The Hawks continued to attack as Lovett’s corner kick in the 39′ would find the back of the net.

Chowan finished off the half with a pair of goals in the 43rd and 44th minutes as Drexhage started the run playing the ball to the left to Randall. Randall took one touch and sent it to the middle to find Binns at the top of the box for the strike. Randall finished off the pass from Omwenga to lead 7-1 at the intermission.

Chowan emptied the bench to start the second half as Graves and Nadjeu would each find the back of the net. Bates collected the assist on Graves’ attempt off the free kick in the 55′. Omwenga was credited with the assist on Nadjeu’s strike in the 58′.

Erskine scored in the 62′ to close the gap to 9-2.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Chowan men’s soccer team picked up the road shutout, defeating Belmont Abbey, 2-0, in Conference Carolinas action.

Dennis Bates and Kai Rymes each recorded a goal in the victory. Harri Lovett posted an assist and moved to the top of the list for NCAA Division II for most assists by an active player with 33 over his career.

Charlie Farrar had a quiet day in goal with three saves to preserve the shutout.

The Hawks improved to 5-4-2 overall (5-1-1 in league play).

Chowan’s women didn’t fare as well on Wednesday at Belmont Abbey, falling 3-2.

Natasha Bailey scored her fourth goal of the season. Lieke Van den Akker connected with her fourth assist of the season. Ysa Novak scored her second goal in as many games.

Kirsten Peterson picked up five saves in goal including a penalty kick save.

Both teams return home for Conference Carolinas matches on Saturday, Oct. 8 where they will host Converse. The women’s match begins at 12 noon while the men will follow at 3 p.m.