ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Due to weather entering the Asheville area this weekend, the UNC Asheville men’s soccer team took the pitch Thursday morning for its competition in the Bulldog Blue & White Showdown. Powered by three goals from Taylor Durall, the Blue team came away victorious by a score of 4-3 in overtime.
The first 45 minutes of action had plenty of offense with four goals being scored. Durall scored twice in the first half to account for the Blue team’s goals, while the White team got a pair of markers from Owen Bauer and Liam O’Dowd.
With the score knotted at two, both defenses stiffened up in the second half. Team White earned its second lead of the game thanks to a goal from Asheville native Luke Sloan in the 77th minute. Now playing from behind, the Blue team was able to tie the score again with under two minutes to go in regulation with a goal from another Asheville native, Izzy Garcia.
It looked for most of overtime that the contest might have to go to a penalty kick shootout to decide a winner. However, Durall had other ideas as he scored the game-winning goal, his third of the day, with a little over a minute to go in the extra frame.
The Bulldog Blue & White Showdown will conclude this evening with volleyball. The best-of-five match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first serve.
