No. 3 Virginia Gets 4-2 Win Over American
9/7/2001 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 7, 2001
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md.- - Sophomore forward Alecko Eskandarian (Montvale, N.J.) scored the gamewinner at 68:25 to lift No. 3 Virginia over American 4-2 at the Maryland/FILA Classic. In a game which included two penalty kicks, an own goal and several cards, the New Jersey-native scored two for the day to lead the Cavs, making it four goals for the year after just three games. Virginia raises it record to 2-0-1, while American suffers its first loss of the season and falls to 2-1-0.
Virginia opened the scoring when junior midfielder Kyle Martino (Westport, Conn.) found Eskandarian on a free kick for the header at 22:21. Martino mixed it up again in the box, crossing it off American's Jonathan Colton (Springfield, Va.), resulting in an own goal less than two minutes later that made it a 2-0 Virginia advantage.
In a wild half, Eagle junior midfielder Kris Bertsch (Clinton, N.J.) converted a penalty kick into the lower right side of the net past Cavalier keeper David Comfort (Richmond, Va.) at 35:08. Despite the goal, the Cavs held the lead and went into the half up 2-1.
American midfielder Melvin Espinal (Houston, Texas) didn't waste much time after substituting for the first time at the half, scoring his first goal of the year on a pass from Bertsch 44 seconds into the second half to equalize the game at two.
For the third time of the afternoon, Martino gave the Cavs a lift. Marshall Leonard (Midland, Ga.) began the sequence, hitting a thru ball to Martino up the center. The midfielder crossed it to Eskandarian for the game winner to make it 3-2 Virginia with 21:35 to play. Martino wasn't done, however, and converted a goal of his own off a penalty kick at 70:58. The junior's goal capped off a great game and rounded out the afternoon's scoring to give Virginia a 4-2 victory.
Virginia continues FILA Classic action Sunday against Creighton at noon. American then meets No. 5 Maryland at 2:30 p.m.
1 2 F American 1 1 2 No. 3 Virginia 2 2 4Goals: 22:21-Virginia: Alecko Eskandarian (3) (Kyle Martino) 23:57- Virginia: (American Own Goal) ` 35:08- American: Kris Bertsch (penalty kick) 45:44- American: Melvin Espinal (Bertsch) 68:52- Virginia: Eskandarian (4) (Martino, Marshall Leonard) 70:58- Virginia: Martino (penalty kick)
Shots: Virginia 5+5=10, American 2+6=8 Corner Kicks: Virginia 4+2=6, American 1+1=2 Fouls: Virginia 10+11=21, American 11+12=23 Offsides: Virginia 2+4=6, American 0+0=0
Goalkeeping: Virginia: David Comfort (90 mins., 2 saves, 2 goals against), American: Michael Behonick (90 mins., 5 saves, 4 goals against)
Cards: Virginia: Kyle Martino (Yellow 40:18). American: Jeff Kinney (Yellow 31:33), Bob Brennan (Yellow 58:44)
