V-Hawks Record First Loss to #8 Georgia Gwinnett

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Viterbo Men's Soccer team, receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, recorded their first loss of the season against #8 Georgia Gwinnett at the Continental Athletic Conference Classic on Friday. The V-Hawks lost 1-2 dropping to 11-1 overall and 0-1 in conference while the Grizzlies improve to 8-1-1 overall and 1-0 in conference.

Georgia Gwinnett recorded three shots on goal while Viterbo recorded one within the first 16 minutes of the game with none to hit the net. The next two shots attempted by the Grizzlies would be unsuccessful. Viterbo came back to attempt a shot on goal but ended up above the net at 27:46. A save by Georgia Gwinnett's goalie Ron Boaz at 34:23 preluded two saves by Viterbo's goalie Ernesto Ascenzo. A foul on Viterbo led to the first goal of the game by Georgia Gwinnett's Jason Strambu. Ascenzo would save a header shot by the Grizzlies before ending the first half 0-1.

Each team attempted a shot on goal within one minute of the second half. Viterbo's goalie, Ernesto Ascenzo recorded a save at 53:47 before the V-Hawks shot again putting it over the net. A shot by the Grizzlies at 67:42 added another save for Ascenzo. A foul on Viterbo led to another Grizzly goal at 72:29 by Diego Milessi and assisted by Aleksandar Rajkovic. The V-Hawks answered back scoring their first goal at 74:05 by Dakota Hatzenbeller. Georgia Gwinnett would attempt four more shots while Viterbo would attempt three before the end of the game with the Grizzlies winning 1-2.

The Grizzlies outshot the V-Hawks 10-19. Georgia Gwinnett totaled 8 corner kicks while Viterbo had 1. Viterbo goalie Ernesto Ascenzo recorded 5 saves while Ron Boaz recorded 2. 

The V-Hawks will stay in Cedar Rapids to compete against Iowa Wesleyan on Sunday, October 16 at 3:00PM CST.