BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College men's soccer team (8-3-3) defeated visiting Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte (4-10), 3-1, in a non-conference match on a clear Wednesday evening at Ives-Lemel Family Field. The game marked the final home game of the 2021 regular season for the Tornados with the regular-season finale set for Saturday at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia.
The scoring began as pressure by Brevard strikers Ryan Lynch and Adam Spencer created an own goal scenario for the Wildcats as BC took a 1-0 lead in the third minute. Sophomore captain Sam O'Callaghan pushed up on the attack and attempted a cross that was partially deflected inadvertently into JWU's own goal.
The score remained 1-0 for the next 25 minutes until an assist by sophomore Estevan Berto set up a beautifully executed goal by freshman Vitor Braga with a chip shot over the JWU goalkeeper's arms. It marked the third goal of the season and the second goal in as many games for Braga who scored in BC's last contest vs. Maryville this past Saturday. The assist brought Berto's total to a team-best four assists on the season.
Neither team found the back of the net for the final 18 minutes of the first half with the Tornados taking a 2-0 advantage into the intermission. In the first half, BC outshot JWU 8-5 with a 5-3 edge in shots-on-goal. The Wildcats earned a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks in the first stanza, yet were unable to convert on any of their set-pieces.
The second half saw a red card issued to a Wildcat in the 52nd minute, leaving JWU a man down for the remainder of the match. Playing with just 10 players, Johnson & Wales was able to get on the board with an unassisted goal by Billy Esparaza-Diaz to cut BC's in half.
Aided by two acrobatic diving saves by BC goalkeeper Jack Pruehs, Brevard was able to keep JWU scoreless for the remainder of the contest.
Meanwhile, the Tornados were able to add an insurance goal in the 87th minute to put an exclamation point in front of the home audience. Junior Trystan Wallace set up senior Greg Sellers with a brilliantly placed pass from midfield to the edge of the penalty box at the 18-yard mark. Sellers, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, promptly fired off a shot that curled into the upper right corner of the net for the senior's first career goal in collegiate competition.
In total, Brevard outshot JWU 18-11 for the contest with an 8-6 advantage in shots-on-goal. Pruehs, a senior goalkeeper from Grayson, Georgia, registered five saves to protect the net en route to the win.
Brevard will return to action with a key USA South Conference contest in the regular-season finale on the road at LaGrange College on Saturday at 3 p.m. in LaGrange, Georgia.
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-BC-