Men’s Soccer Drops Conference Contest

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA – The Richard Bland College men's soccer team hosted USC Union Saturday afternoon in their second meeting of the season. In the first meeting, the Statesmen prevailed in a 3-1 win. During today's match, Richard Bland dropped the 1-5 conference game, moving the Statesmen to 3-1-2 overall and in conference play.

Union got on the board first off a service ball from the corner to the top of the 18 yard box that allowed a Bantam player to slip the ball in behind the Statesman keeper, taking a 0-1 lead. One minute later, Patrick Dane served a cross to Juan Santana who hustled to the quick rolling ball at the end line, allowing him to pass the ball into the box to Alonso Villegas, for Villegas' one-touch shot past the keeper leveling the game, 1-1. Richard Bland struggled to keep their grove this afternoon as the Bantams struck again to take a 1-2 lead at the break, after the Statesman keeper bobbled the ball in the box. Seven and a half minutes into the second half, the Bantams tallied again, taking their lead to two (1-3). Two minutes later, USC Union served the ball from the right corner towards the penalty kick area, and found a gap towards the far post, taking a 1-4 lead. In the final 18 minutes of the game, the Bantams tracked a loose ball for a breakaway, 1v1 battle with the Statesman keeper, scoring their final goal of the game to take home a 1-5 victory over Richard Bland.

Damion Ruffin started between the pipes and played all 90 minutes for Richard Bland. Villegas had two shots on goal to lead the Richard Bland offense.

The Richard Bland College men's soccer team next hosts Southwest Virginia Community College, for their second meeting of the season, on Monday, September 23^rd at 2pm. This is the make-up date for the September 18^th game.