Andrade nets two in victory over Crusaders - Queens University of Charlotte Athletics

Wednesday, September 18

Charlotte, N.C.

7:30 p.m.

Queens University of Charlotte

4-1

North Greenville University

2-3

Team	1	2	Final F
North Greenville	0	0	0
Queens (N.C.)	1	2	3

9/18/2013 10:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Emory Smith-Sports Information Intern

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Royals cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Crusaders of North Greenville tonight at Dickson Field. The Royals improve to 4-1 on the season, remaining at 1-0 in the conference. North Greenville drops to 2-3.

In a rematch of former Conference Carolinas foes, Queens was on the forefoot from the beginning of the match, testing keeper DJ Baker with 13 shots in the first half.

In the eighth minute of the game, Queens got on the board courtesy of a beautiful Felipe Netto through ball into Thiago Andrade, who coolly slotted the ball into the opposite corner as Baker ran into him. It was a role reversal for the two players, who had been conference leaders in goals and assists, respectively.

With multiple other opportunities, too many of which to describe, Queens went into the half in a mixed mood, knowing they could and should have put at least one more number on the board.

As the second half began, it seemed for three minutes that the game would continue as it had begun, but North Greenville turned a 180 and started playing as a completely different unit.

The Crusaders were able to possess the ball and outwork the Royals when they lost the it. Looking outmatched, the home side failed to tighten up defensively on more than one occasion, but fortunately none of those came back to bite them.

On one of those occasions, in the 59th minute, a NGU cross inside of the box took a quick detour off of a Queens defenders arm, and just like that Thales Wieczorek had a chance to level the game, something no fan could see coming based off of the first half play.

As Wieczorek stepped up to the spot, keeper Montrell Morgan prepared himself, knowing it would be a quick reaction one way or the other. The kick came and was perfectly timed by Morgan, who was fully sprawled out to his left as he palmed the ball away from the net. After a few moments of mayhem with the ball bouncing around, you could hear sighs of relief mixed in with screams of celebration. The momentum had swung in the way of the Royals thanks to the redshirt junior keeper from Charlotte.

After the penalty in the 59th minute, Queens simply dominated the rest of the affair after a dicey situation which involved freshman Jonathan Onyeaka and a near red card. He was given only a yellow, and the free kick, just outside the box, was unable to get beyond the wall.

Only two minutes after the yellow, in the 64th minute, Gersi Cilingiri was able to slot Erick Suarez a pass only 8 yards from the keeper. Suarez handled it beautifully, and using his off-foot, put the ball home in style, giving Queens the insurance goal it had been looking for since the first half.

With the momentum squarely in the home sides favor, senior Thiago Andrade took over the show. Forty yards from goal, Andrade rainbowed a defender to perfection, running around him and then passing it off to a teammate. It was a piece of technical brilliance, something you normally only see in video games.

Andrade outdid himself several minutes later, receiving a pass down the right hand side in the 69th minute. As he was cutting back towards goal, it appeared a Crusader defender fouled him. Keeping his balance and playing on, Andrade took the ball and found a pocket of space 20 yards out from goal, right outside the upper left hand corner of the box. In stride, Andrade curled a wonder strike into the far corner of the net. The goal is an early contestant for goal of the season, one where the keeper had no chance whatsoever.

With a 3-0 cushion, Queens was able to ride out the game, knowing a win was in the books.

The Royals next play Brevard on Saturday away from Dickson Field, but will be back a week from tonight to take on Anderson under the lights. Game time is at 7:30 p.m., right after the women's game.