Dalton State soccer: Roadrunners pick up win in ranked showdown to finish non-conference play undefeated

Published 12:45 pm Monday, September 16, 2024

In a matchup of two nationally-ranked, undefeated NAIA men’s soccer teams on Friday, No. 2 Dalton State got past No. 13 Cumberland 2-1 to get to 6-0 on the season.

Cumberland came in at 7-0, having made a leap up to No. 13 from No. 19 in the previous poll, but the Roadrunners handed the visitors their first loss Friday night while staying unbeaten themselves.

Dalton State got on the board first with a Juan Demichelis goal at the 27:16 mark of the first half. Jaime Mendiola picked up the assist on the goal, which was the lone score of the first half.

The Roadrunners added another less than three minutes after halftime, when Jack Stainrod made it 2-0 off an assist from Kazuma Ishizuka.

The 2-0 lead held until the 73rd minute, when a goal that was credited as a team goal made it 2-1.

The Roadrunners protected the rest of the lead and got out of the ranked showdown with a win.

Dalton State held a decisive advantage in possession ad shooting. Dalton State totaled 11 shots to just two for Cumberland in the first half, and the lead for Dalton State was 20-6 in shots overall. Dalton State had seven shots on goal, while Cumberland had two.

Mason Dalton led the Roadrunners with three of those shots on goal, but he couldn’t get one past Cumberland keeper George Irons. Jesus Huitanda and Jip van den Essen each totaled three shots.

DSC keeper Nicolas Leite had one save.

The Roadrunners step into Southern States Athletic Conference action starting Saturday, and the remainder of their schedule will be made up of league play.

Dalton State will start with Thomas, currently unranked but having received votes in the latest NAIA poll, on the road in Thomasville on Saturday.