Buies Creek, NC - The N.C. Wesleyan men's soccer team traveled to Buies Creek for its only exhibition match of the season, taking on the Campbell Camels in a challenging contest on Sunday evening. Despite a strong effort, the Battling Bishops fell short, with Campbell securing a 2-0 victory.
The Basics:
Score: N.C. Wesleyan 0, Campbell 2
Location/Venue: Buies Creek, NC / Eakes Athletics Complex
Records: N.C. Wesleyan (0-0, 0-0 USA South), Campbell (2-0, 0-0 CAA)
The Camels wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Lotem Ben Dov broke the scoreless tie just four minutes into the game, giving Campbell an early 1-0 lead. The Battling Bishops held their own defensively for the remainder of the first half, preventing any further damage and going into halftime down by just one goal.
In the second half, Wesleyan's defense continued to battle, but a penalty kick awarded to Campbell in the 72nd minute proved to be the deciding factor. Curtis DeLeon stepped up and converted the penalty, doubling the Camels' advantage and ultimately sealing the 2-0 victory.
Battling Bishop goalkeeper Rafael Farina put in a commendable performance, making six saves on eight shots on goal. His efforts kept the Bishops within striking distance, but Wesleyan's offense struggled to create scoring opportunities, managing just two shots on goal throughout the match.
Up Next:
Despite the loss, the exhibition provided valuable experience for the Battling Bishops as they prepare for the upcoming regular season, which begins this Friday night at Mary Washington. Coming into the 2024 campaign tabbed to win the Coast-To-Coast Conference, the Eagles made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2023. Kickoff is set for 5:00 PM and will be streamed on the Mary Washington Sports Network.
