LYNCHBURG, Va. –
Agustin Jaraba's first goal of 2024 was an important one, as Averett University men's soccer knocked off Randolph College 2-1 on the road on Wednesday night to conclude the regular season.
Jonthomas Buckley outdid himself, tallying his second assist of the game by supplying Jaraba with the tap-in goal in the 73rd minute. Dribbling past defenders on the right side, Buckley found his teammate in the penalty box for Averett's (5-6-6, 2-5-3 ODAC) game winning goal.
Tensions rose as the contest began to wind down, but as the Cougars went down to nine men on the field, the defense held firm against the WildCat offense to maintain their lead, and the single-goal victory by the full-time whistle.
Randolph (3-9-5, 2-7-1 ODAC) edged out in front in the third minute, as Zach Nipper sent a cross off of a corner kick that Cooper Sayles was able to drive into the net for the 1-0 lead.
Averett's fifth shot of the first half paid dividends, as Buckley linked up with a surging
Daniel Starr, who found his spot in the bottom left corner to tie the game up at one, and the striker's fourth score of the 2024 campaign. For Buckley, the assist marked his fourth, a team-high this season, and a new season-high for the junior midfielder.
The Cougars attempted double-digit shots for the sixth straight contest, with 12.
Tyler Yates made four saves, including two key stops in the second period.
Averett concludes its 2024 regular season, finishing down the stretch undefeated in four out of its five last contests.
