Girones’s 14 Saves Keep Argos Ahead in 3-2 Win Over McPherson
VIDEO: UP Goal 1 | UP Goal 2 | UP Goal 3
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Argo soccer responded well after its difficult 6-1 loss in the season opener to beat (RV) McPherson College 3-2 for the team's first win of the season. UP's inexperienced defense still showed a few holes, but the team's offense and junior goalkeeper Marc Girones did just enough to get the win.
"We have a lot to work on when we get back if we are going to get anywhere near our potential, but coming home with a win against that caliber of a team was big for this young group," Head Coach Joseph Yeisley said.
Following a dangerous Bulldog scoring opportunity in the first few minutes, the Argos controlled the bulk of the first half. A furious two-minute effort that started in the 4th minute did everything but score, with UP earning 2 corner kicks, 5 shots, and 4 shots on goal during the roughly 120 seconds, but none of those efforts found the back of the net
The game's first goal came from junior midfielder Adrian Gomez on a corner kick from the left corner in the 16th minute. He struck the ball and it started curling on track to find the net of its own accord. Senior forward Christopher Chavez did well to get just enough in the way of the Bulldog goalkeeper that he couldn't reach the ball and it went in without any deflection.
UP kept tight control of the game for another 10 minutes, but then play started to even out. Girones was forced to make 3 saves over the course as many minutes to keep his sheet clean and was called on to make 2 more before the end of the half.
I the 43rd minute, senior midfielder Luis Macias gave the Argos an extra advantage. The play started with great hustle from redshirt-sophomore forward Cole Meyers to when back the ball on an attempted Bulldog counterattack. The ball then knocked around a bit till it found the foot of Chavez who found Macias about 25 yards out in the middle of the field. Macias took a few touches to find a bit of space and let rip a cracking strike that found the left corner of the net to make it 2-0.
"I thought we came out and played our style in the first 25 minute or so, which was nice," Yeisley said. "Part of our progress will be to learn how to sustain that style for long periods of time."
UP's inability to sustain that style meant the Bulldogs largely controlled the second half. A goal from MAC's Christopher Kelly in the 59th minute pulled McPherson within 2-1.
While McPherson continued to look like the more dangerous side, the Argos struck again in the 76th minute. The goal game on another corner kick from Gomez which ultimately proved to be the game winning goal. This time, instead of finding the net on its own, his kick found the head of freshman midfielder George Almeida who used is 6-4 size to score his first collegiate goal.
McPherson went on a full-scale assault on the Argo net after that and put plenty of pressure on the young UP defense. Kelly scored again in the 81st minute and the final five minutes saw the Bulldogs come away with a slew of quality chances including one shot that hit off the crossbar.
A few other chances required difficult saves from Girones who stood tall to complete one of the best games of the two-time Second Team All-Conference goalkeeper's career. The junior set a career high with 14 saves in the game.
"Marc was fantastic in goal. Though his goals against average through these first two games won't show it, his performances have been nothing less than a top goalkeeper at this level," Yeisley said.
Gomez and Chavez were the most active offensive players for UP. Gomez, UP's total points leader in 2016 had 4 shots, 2 shots on goal, 1 goal, and 1 assists, while Chavez, who was second on the team in assists in 2016, tallied his second assist of the year along with 3 shots and 1 shot on goal.
The Argos are now 1-1 on the year with a loss to a top-10 team and win over a team receiving votes. UP returns home for the first time in 2017 on September 9 for a 1 p.m. meeting with Presentation College.