Men’s Soccer edges Coastal

The Liberty Flames men’s soccer team came home to Osborne Stadium after a month on the road to squeeze past the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 1-0 Saturday afternoon.  The Flames improved 6-2-1 (2-1 BSC).

The Flames opened the season at home with their win over Bluefield Sept. 1, but have been on the road since.

“This seven game road swing has strengthened our group,” Flames head coach Jeff Adler said. “I think it has been good for our mental toughness.”

The Flames were coming off a win on the road against Winthrop coming into Saturday’s game.  Winthrop won the Big South tournament last year.

“Last year is last year,” Adler said. “We [do not] want to operate by looking into the rearview mirror.”

The Flames also had lost to Radford during their month on the road and came into Osborne Stadium on Saturday 1-1 in the conference.

A total of 679 fans cheered the Flames as they battled the Chanticleers back and forth across the field.

“[We have] got a faithful and loyal fan base,” Adler said before the game.  “[That is] going to be instrumental in our success.”

The Flames were able to play an effective defensive game.  The Chanticleers took 10 shots on the goal but none went in.  Adler said this shutout was great for their momentum.

“Our team is built on collective [defensive] responsibility,” Adler said. “When we lose it our guys fight to the death to get it back,”

The Flames took 14 shots on the Chanticleers but it was Timothy Bullock’s single goal toward the end of the first half, combined with tight defense that allowed them to hold on for victory.

“Our guys dug in today and found a way to be one better than Coastal,” Adler said.

Adler said his overall team strategy has not changed.  He wants the Flames to be united and he wants them to be concentrated as much as he wants them to give effort.

“[We are] in a swing of our four toughest games of the year,” junior goalkeeper Paul Gilbert said.

Gilbert had four saves for the Flames on Saturday.

The Flames will travel to Charlottesville next Tuesday to play the University of Virginia Cavaliers.  The Cavaliers are the 2009 defending national champions and ranked third in the nation.

“The next game on our schedule is the most important game,” Adler said earlier in the season.

“[It is] going to be a tough environment,” Gilbert said. “We’ve got to fight hard.”

Gilbert said the Cavaliers play a similar style of soccer as the Flames.  Adler anticipates they will put a lot of pressure on the Flames.

“We’ve got to make sure we take care of the ball,” Adler said.

SAWYER is a sports reporter.