DANVILLE, Va. – Great moments are created out of thin air, and for Averett University men's soccer, that proved to be true in spades on Wednesday night versus Roanoke at Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.
Joshua Garcia's belter from just inside the 30-yard line cracked the top left corner to sink the Maroons, 1-0, for the Cougars' first ODAC win of 2025.
Visitors Roanoke (6-6-0, 0-3-0 ODAC) nearly got on the scoresheet at breakneck speed when the Maroon drew a penalty just inside four minutes. Already having stopped multiple spot kicks this season alone, Averett (3-4-3, 1-2-0 ODAC) netminder
Anibal Lopez was up to the task once more, saving the shot to keep the game tied. Lopez added on another pair to ensure a dead-even score at the halftime break.
With the game deadlocked at 0-0 through nearly 65 minutes of play, Roanoke (6-6-0, 0-3-0 ODAC) seemed poised for a counter-attack, until the junior Garcia thwarted the attack at midfield, and dribbled the ball into open space.
With no defenders around, the midfielder launched a shot, soaring well past the Maroon goalkeeper and into the top-left corner to ensue pandemonium in Danville. Averett got the one-goal cushion that would not be relinquished.
Lopez saved his best efforts for the second half, notching six alone, with many highlight-worthy stops to stop Roanoke in its tracks, adding on yet another star performance for the conference's leader in saves and saves per game.
Lopez's nine saves are the second most for him this season, and the senior keeper recorded his fifth shutout of the year, tied for second-most in the ODAC.
Averett next links up with conference table co-leaders Bridgewater College on Saturday, Oct. 11. Start time is set for 1 p.m.
