By Davin Wilson/Assistant Sports Information Director
DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University's men's soccer team fell to Berry College 5-1 in a non-conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Daly Field.
The Cougars (1-6, 0-2 USA South) recorded a season-high 13 shots, but were only able to find the back of the net once.
Averett fired off the first shot of the game in the 3rd minute, but junior midfielder Jordan Palma's shot went wide of the mark. Palma would test the Vikings (6-3) goalkeeper Jon Nelson again in the 11th minute, but Nelson was able to come up with the save. The Cougars junior defensive back Stelios Michalakis shot in the 16th minute went wide of the post, keeping the score tied at zero.
Four minutes later, Berry's Evan Echols shot found pay dirt, making it 1-0 Vikings. Averett senior midfielder Nathan Brown recorded his first shot of the game off a header in the 22nd minute, but the shot went wide right of the post. In the 27th minute, Cougars freshman Mitchell Smith fired in a shot, but Nelson was able to make the save, keeping it 1-0 in advantage of Berry.
Christian Fulbright scored the second goal of the game in the 37th minute off Wallingford's second assist, making it 2-0 Vikings with eight minutes left in the first half.
Berry's Evan Echols recorded his second goal of the match in the 64th minute off a Alex Rotoloni pass, giving Rotolini his second assist of the game and making it 3-0 Vikings. Alex Ebersole would score Berry's fourth goal in the 83rd minute, making it 4-0 in favor of the Vikings.
Averett senior Christopher Koenig scored his first goal of the season off an assist by Michalakis in the 84th minute. Fulbright added an assist to go along with his goal when he found Daniel Shaw in the 88th minute, leading to the final score of 5-1.
Brown tallied four shots on goal and Palma added two for the Cougars. Koenig finished the game with two shots for Averett and senior Sam Muir recorded one. Junior Brian Benitez had one shot on goal for the Cougars.
Averett will take on Guilford College Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina.
