Juan Luna (Mount Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson) got EMU’s athletics season started on the right foot and Parker Leap (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) added insurance as the Royals beat Southern Virginia 2-0 Thursday night in Buena Vista, Va.
It was the first season-opening shutout for the Eastern Mennonite soccer men since 2011, which was a similar 2-0 blanking of Shenandoah University before the Hornets joined the ODAC.
Even with a young team, including a starting lineup made up of seven freshmen and sophomores, the upperclassmen shown through on opening night.
On the men’s first shot attempt of the year, Luna went near post on a 25-yard free kick, catching SVU’s defense off guard for a goal just 9:15 into play. Luna’s laser hit the top part of the net, giving the All-ODAC First Teamer his fifth career game-winner.
After a rash of subs in the 59th minute, EMU pushed hard for the second score. Shortly after getting whistled for an offsides, the Royals regained possession and pulled out SVU’s keeper. Freshman Daniel Obour (Alexandria, Va./Mount Vernon) found Leap in front of the net for a quick tap-in for the 2-0 margin. It was a great return to the pitch for Leap, a graduate student who previously played two seasons for the Royals in 2012-13.
Southern Virginia starting clicking as the second half wore on, but the backline held and keeper Matthew Overacker (Mount Crawford, Va./Turner Ashby) made three saves down the stretch, including one from a free kick in front of the goal. The junior finished with five saves in his first action since being injured in a Sept. 26 game last fall.
After winning their season-opener for the second straight time, Eastern Mennonite returns home this weekend for the EMU/BC Fall Classic. The Royals host Wesley on Saturday followed by DeSales on Sunday. Both games start at 3:00pm on EMU’s Turf Field. Bridgewater College will also play both visitors over the weekend, with an overall champion being named based on record, goals scored and goals allowed.
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