GREEN BAY, Wis.
(GreenBayPhoenix.com) - After a scoreless first half, the Green Bay men's soccer team (4-3-1,
0-1-0) came out fast to start the second half, beating Bradley (3-5-1, 0-0-0)
2-0 on Sunday.
"I liked the energy and effort the guys came out with. Their
concentration level was better today and now we just need to keep progressing,"
said head coach Tom Poitras.
It was a defensive battle in the first half. Green Bay out shot
Bradley 6-4 while both goalkeepers had two saves at the break.
"Today we solidified some things and got a little more
consistent defensively and that's definitely a positive," said Poitras about
his team's defense, which has struggled this season.
Green Bay jumped out to a fast start in the second half. At
50:32, Tony Walls (Wauwatosa, Wis.) set up for a free kick, passed to JC Banks
(Milwaukee, Wis.) who found Tony Patterson (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) deep in the
box. Patterson scored his first goal of the season to give the Phoenix the 1-0
lead.
Perhaps the highlight of the game was at 85:07 when Banks
secured the win for Green Bay. Banks beat a defender at midfield, fired a shot
about 30 yards out between two other defenders and placed the ball perfectly in
the upper right-hand corner of the net for the 2-0 lead.
"He found an opening, made a good move by passing the
defender, picked his head up and made one of the best shots I've seen," said Poitras.
"That was a world class goal, no one was saving that."
Check out JC's "world class goal"...
Keeper Ryan Wehking (St. Louis, Mo.) earned his first shutout
of the season, recording four saves for the Phoenix. "It feels great to finally
get a shutout, is an all-around great defensive effort by our team," said
Wehking.
Green Bay out shot Bradley 16-7 while the Braves had eight
corner kicks compared to Green Bay's two in the contest.
"This was an important game for us, especially after Friday,
now we just need to prepare ourselves for a long road stretch," said head coach
Tom Poitras.
Green Bay will hit the road for its next five games. Friday
the Phoenix will travel to Cleveland State Friday, Oct. 1 followed by Detroit
on Sunday, Oct. 3.
