The Appalachian | Archives | 2000-2001

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The Appalachian - 262-6233
Boone, NC 28608
Sept. 12, 2000

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Sports

Men's soccer team topples ECU, GSU

Andrea Barrows - Sports Beat

After a disappointing start with two losses the first weekend of the season, the Appalachian State University menÕs soccer team returned to Boone for their home opener last Wednesday afternoon against East Carolina University.

After this game it seems that the team is back on track, defeating East Carolina University 3-1. Coach Aidan Heaney felt that his team played an exceptional game and that the win was well deserved.

ÒAt this stage of the season it is more important to get results,Ó said Heaney. He felt that the team played well over the weekend but didnÕt get the wins, so he hopes that this win will help the young team build confidence.

Junior Jordy Broder, who was named to the Preseason All-League team last month, scored two of AppalachianÕs three goals in WednesdayÕs game. His first goal was scored two minutes after East CarolinaÕs goal with 12:14 remaining in the first half to tie the score 1-1.

In the second half, senior Andy Simpson scored for the Mountaineers with 9:37 to go, giving Appalachian a 2-1 lead. SimpsonÕs goal was assisted by Bobby Maloney and Eric Daughtry.

The final nine minutes of the game were action packed. With 8:55 remaining, Brian Kite received a yellow card, and freshman Ray Soporowski lay injured on the field after getting hit in the nose. With 7:58 remaining, goalie Chris Robinson received a yellow card and Andy Simpson was given a red card which resulted in his ejection from the game as well as suspension from the upcoming game against Georgia State.

The excitement continued to mount when East Carolina scored a goal to tie the game at two with under three minutes remaining, but the referee called the goal off claiming that the East Carolina player had been off sides. With just under two minutes remaining, Broder scored his second goal to seal the victory for Appalachian.

The men also played a game Sunday afternoon at Georgia State, pulling out their second victory of the season with a score of 2-1. Both of AppalachianÕs goals were scored in the first half of the game by Broder.

The teamÕs next game is Sept. 13 at Clemson, where the Mountaineers will hopefully add another win to their 2-2-0 record. The next home game will be at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 against VMI at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

 

 

 

Trojan offense busts wide open in 34-28 win

Chris Boyce - Varsity Sports

A seat at the top of the NCAA division I-AA rankings was Appalachian StateÕs to lose Saturday night, and the Mountaineers came up limp.

In a game that had been hyped as one of the biggest match-ups in Division I-AA this season, second-ranked Troy State University used big plays and consistent defense to botch fourth-ranked AppalachianÕs bid to start the year 2-0, beating ASU 34-28.

Another sore spot for Appalachian was a lackluster second-half offense.

ÒWe had plenty of opportunities to win the football game but when youÕre playing a good football team like them (TSU), you canÕt waste opportunities,Ó said Appalachian State head football coach Jerry Moore.

Big offensive plays killed the Mountaineers, especially the play of Troy StateÕs offensive phenom Demontray Carter.

Carter burned the Mountaineer defense for three touchdowns, four receptions for 153 yards, and 103 yards rushing.

ÒHe (Carter) played really well tonight,Ó said Appalachian defensive back Corey Hall. ÒWe helped him out a bit with some poor tackles.Ó

Troy State came out aggressively on their first possession with a three-play, 79-yard drive highlighted by Demontray CarterÕs 31-yard run.

The Mountaineers struck back with 6:28 left in the first quarter with a touchdown pass from David Reaves to tight end Daniel Wilcox for 26 yards, tying the score at seven.

After two Mark Wright field goals in the second quarter, Troy State compiled a nine-play, 68-yard drive culminating in a three-yard touchdown run by Troy State quarterback Brock Nutter. The score gave Troy State a 14-13 lead with only 23 seconds left to go in the first half.

Appalachian used their 23 seconds wisely, moving the ball 14 yards in three plays. The drive resulted in a 57-yard field goal by Wright, giving the Mountaineers a 16-14 lead and a much-needed burst of momentum.

WrightÕs kick was the longest in school history, beating the previous record of 55 yards.

AppalachianÕs offense stalled in the third quarter, punting the ball five times in the second half and going three-and-out on their first three possessions of the second half.

ÒOur inefficiency to convert on numerous times in the third and fourth quarters really hurt us, and then when we had opportunities to do it we couldnÕt cash in on them,Ó said Moore. ÒWe were three-and-out too many times.Ó

Moore was quick to point out the differences between Wake Forest and Troy State, but his main source of frustration came from a failure to capitalize on offense.

ÒThereÕs a huge difference between Troy State and Wake Forest,Ó said Moore. ÒThe talent level is a lot better. IÕm disappointed because we lost to a more talented football team and we had opportunities to win. IÕm proud of our kids. With as many mistakes as we made, we still stayed in the ballgame.Ó

One of the few bright spots for the Mountaineers was the play of tight end Daniel Wilcox, who caught ten passes for 106 yards and one touchdown. After the game, Wilcox had an interesting outlook at the Mountaineers troubles.

ÒItÕs really apparent that we need to start spreading the ball out more. The more we spread the ball out the more points weÕll score.Ó

Another positive for the Apps was the performance of backup quarterback Joe Burchette.

After a hit shook up starting quarterback David Reaves in the fourth quarter, Burchette was inserted into the lineup with only four minutes left in the game and the Apps down 31-16.

Burchette led the Mountaineers on two drives which resulted in two touchdowns, the first of which Burchette bulled his way for five yards into the end zone.

After the TrojansÕ Lawrence Tynes kicked a 30-yard field goal, Appalachian mounted one last drive. The seven-play, 80-yard drive took only 1:21 off the clock and was highlighted by a nine-yard touchdown pass from Burchette to Joey Gibson.

Burchette finished the game completing four of eight passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Coach Moore was pleased with his backup quarterbackÕs play. ÒJoe Burchette has been ready to play for some time,Ó said Moore. ÒHeÕs gotten better and better.Ó Burchette down-played his performance after the game. ÒI donÕt think I proved anything.

They call the plays and I run them. WeÕd have some good plays and then weÕd have a couple negative plays. WeÕd get in third and short and couldnÕt convert. It was nothing anybody did, itÕs just we didnÕt have it.

We didnÕt play the best we could tonight.Ó Appalachian will have a bye week this weekend, which will allow the team and coaches to watch tape and reassess strategy. Moore is confident that the team will bounce back.

ÒFor the objective value, Troy StateÕs a good football team and that causes you to have problems,Ó said Moore. ÒI think that there will be a lot of positive things to come out of the game.Ó

The Appalachian State football team returns to action at Kidd-Brewer stadium Sept. 23 when the Citadel Bulldogs come to town.

 

 

 
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