University of Delaware Athletics
Mediate's Game-Winner Helps Hens Keep the Streak Alive 4-1 at SPC (Sept. 21, 2011)
9/21/2011 3:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Senior forward Evans Frimpong was the top point getter on the day, finishing with a pair of goals and a pair of assists. He led the day in shooting, taking seven total attempts, putting five of those on goal and capitalizing on two. Fellow senior Kyle Ellis put up four shots, one of which found the back of the net.
But it was sophomore midfielder Vincent Mediate who gave the Hens the victory on his first goal of the season. After the Peacocks (0-7-0) tied the game at 1-1 in the 52nd minute, Mediate put away the game-winner on Frimpong's second assist of the game, finishing from 15 yards out.
With their fourth consecutive win, Delaware won its most consecutive games since the 1996 season when it won four in a row from Oct. 4-Oct. 11. The 5-0-1 start for Delaware is the best under sixth-year headman Ian Hennessy, but the program's best since 1985 when it was under the direction of UD Hall of Fame coach Loren Kline.
“We stressed the importance of away games this season. It was an area we have struggled in the past and needed a different mind set this year,” said Hennessy, whose team is 3-0-1 on the road this year. “Again the players have been terrific and keep finding ways to win. Evans continues to impress and his contribution today was significant.”
Hennessy, who was coaching Delaware for the fourth time against the Peacocks, picked up his first victory against the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference squad. The Peacocks control the series with three wins to Delaware's one.
The victory kept several streaks alive for the Blue Hens soccer team this season, including a nine-game regular season undefeated streak, stretching back to Oct. 23 at William & Mary.
Ellis, a Delaware native, extended his goal-scoring streak to three. His goal, which was the first of the game in the 18th minute, was his third in four games and marked the fifth time this season he has at least one point.
Frimpong, who had assists on UD's first two goals put away two insurance goals in the 76th and 78th minutes, bringing his season total to a team-leading five. The helpers were Frimpong's second and third on the year and first since Delaware's 3-3 draw with Seton Hall on Sept. 1. The second Frimpong marker on the day came on his second penalty kick of the year. He has now converted on one of his two attempts on the season.
The Peacocks, tied the match 1-1 in the 52nd minute after Betim Bajrami scored unassisted from 10 yards out to keep Saint Peter's in the game.
But in the end, the Delaware's offense, which is averaging just under three goals a game, proved to be too much for Peacock netminder Diego Mendoza, who managed to stop eight saves on Delaware's 12 shots on goal in the loss.
Kris Devaux played all 90 minutes in goal for Delaware, turning aside three Peacock shots. Delaware's defense was strong throughout the game, allowing just seven total shots. Devaux got his fourth straight win in goal for the Hens.
“We prepare now for a huge conference opener against a very good Georgia State team and hope to have a big supportive crowd for the lads who have been terrific thus far,” said Hennessy of the league opener.
Delaware will put another streak on the line this Saturday when it hosts Georgia State. The Hens, who are undefeated in their last seven games at Delaware Mini-Stadium, will face the Panthers at 7 p.m. as part of a UD doubleheader with football, which has a Noon kickoff against Old Dominion University.
