Alvand Hajizadeh
MEN’S SOCCER WINS THREE
September 17, 2012
The Middlebury College men’s soccer team won its eighth straight meeting with Norwich (3-2), topping the Cadets 2-0 at home in a non-league game. The Panthers (1-1) now lead the all-time series 48-3-4.
Middlebury scored just 7:02 into the game when senior Josh Lyvers (Harvard, Mass.) found senior Alvand Hajizadeh (Williamstown, Mass.) with a long crossing pass from the left side. Hajizadeh gathered the ball and scored from a tough angle on the short side to make it a 1-0 game. The Cadet’s best chance to score came in the 16th minute when a bicycle shot from Ludo Kamga into an open goal was denied by Middlebury junior forward Graham Knisley (Wakefield, R.I.). The Panthers threatened minutes later with a pair of shots from senior Matt Martin (Kenmore, Wash.) and junior Tyler Smith (Pottersville, N.J.) on a corner kick, but both were denied by Norwich keeper Greg Payne.
Norwich came on strong between the 50 and 60th minutes with some shots at the Middlebury net, but were unable to score. Their best chance came on a nice pass from Mike Ravenelle to an open Kamga, who was denied by a nice defensive play by Panther junior Adam Batista (Newport, Vt.).
Middlebury put the game away with just 3:22 remaining with a goal from Knisley. Sophomore Sam Redmond (New York, N.Y.) sent the ball into the box where it was headed by Hajizadeh and further headed into the back of the net by Knisley.
Middlebury held a 14-2 shots advantage in the game and a 9-2 lead in corner kicks. Payne made six saves in goal for the Cadets, while senior Zach Abdu-Glass (Lexington, Mass.) was forced to make no saves for the Panthers.
Middlebury and Colby made it four straight years with an overtime game, but this time the Panthers came out on top in a 1-0 NESCAC victory on Saturday.
Hajzadeh scored just 39 seconds into overtime on a header. Senior Rob Cole (South Burlington, Vt.), who had an assist on the play, knocked a shot off the crossbar and Hajzadeh was in the right position for the header.
Middlebury had an 11-6 advantage in shots and both teams had three corner kicks. Abdu-Glass made one save in earning the shutout, while Colby's Cody Funkhouser also stopped one shot for the Mules.
Hajizadeh scored the only goal of the game with a minute remaining in the first half Sunday afternoon as Middlebury earned a 1-0 victory over Plymouth State University in a non-conference men’s soccer match at Panther Field. The Panthers improve to 3-1 on the season with three straight wins.
Hajizadeh scored on a beautiful header to the left side of the goal, fed to him on a diagonal free kick from sophomore Brandon Robinson (Rye, N.Y.). The Middlebury defense, led by Knisley and junior William Gevertz (Armonk, N.Y.), limited the home team to just four shots and Abdu-Glass made two saves to complete the clean sheet.
Middlebury had an 11-3 margin in shots in the first half but didn’t score until the final minute. Lyvers had the first good scoring attempt nine minutes in after a header pass from senior Jack Freeman (Ridgewood, N.J.) but his shot went wide right. A header by Martin 10 minutes later also sailed right, and a cross from Hajizadeh to sophomore Harper Williams (Charlotte, N.C.) was broken up on a nice play by PSU senior Parker Spear.
Hajizadeh’s goal with 1:19 remaining in the first half gave the visitors momentum heading into the second half, but the home team went back and forth with them. Junior Jacob Sjoberg had perhaps PSU’s best chance with in the 65th minute but his shot just inside the top of the box was tipped over the crossbar by Abdu-Glass. Middlebury was looking for an insurance goal but Smith missed high with a shot with 18 minutes remaining and PSU keeper Sam Whipple (3 saves), making his first career start, stopped Hajizadeh from point blank range with six minutes to play.
Middlebury finished with a 17-4 advantage in shots and an 11-2 margin in corner kicks.
• Men’s soccer record: 3-1
• Up next: 9/22 vs. Bowdoin – 12:00, 9/23 vs. Amherst – 2:30
