Box Score Manfred Earns Shutout In Goal
MARYVILLE – The Maryville College Scots won their seventh-straight match on Saturday, as MC downed Piedmont College, 3-0, in their USA South Athletic Conference opener.
Goals by Brooklyn Muccillo, Austin Vinyard and Jameson Elmore led the way, as Mykal Manfred earned the shutout in goal.
"I think one of the lowest points in the history of the program was last year at Piedmont," Head Coach Pepe Fernandez said. "We went down there beat up, and we were playing forwards at defender and kids all over the place. We were in the middle of a COVID season, and their coach – me – was a terrible COVID coach. I think the guys that were down there, this was a game that they circled on their calendar for other reasons than that it was just a conference rival. They felt like that they really wanted to show that they were a class, quality team. We did that today. I felt like the first half, we were as good as any team at Maryville in the first half. The second half, we suffered from a little bit of over confidence, and we didn't play as well. You get the shutout, the 3-0 win, and you have everybody healthy after the game. It makes you feel good about going into conference play."
Ndubueze Henry had two assists for MC, while Ryan Clift added another.
The Scots got the scoring started in the 19th minute. Henry found Elmore with a chip to the middle, as Elmore right-footed a goal into the lower left corner for a 1-0 Maryville lead.
In the 27th minute, a handball in the box allowed MC a penalty kick. Vinyard made it count to the lower left of the goal, as the Scots jumped ahead, 2-0.
MC's final goal came in the 33rd minute, from Muccillo. Clift flicked a pass ahead to Henry, who crossed it into the box to Muccillo. He slotted it home in the bottom left for the 3-0 victory.
Manfred turned away four key saves in the match to keep the Lions at bay.
"He was good," Fernandez said. "I felt like we shut off right after halftime. They felt like they had the game won. When that happens, if your keeper saves you, it shows what a class keeper he is."
Maryville (8-1-0, 1-0-0 USA South) outshout Piedmont (2-6-0, 0-1-0) 10-3 in the first half, before finishing the match with a 13-11 advantage.
Maryville will look next to face Lynchburg College in non-conference action Tuesday, Sept. 28. First touch in Virginia is slated for 7:00 p.m.
