HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men's soccer team picked up a 2-1 win its in home opener on Wednesday evening (Sept. 7) against the visiting Chowan University Hawks in non-conference action. 

It was a chippy contest between the two teams, combining for 23 fouls and seven yellow cards.

The opening half saw neither team find the back of the net, the Cobras collecting five shots, Chowan tallying four.

Both teams came out of the locker rooms on fire, combining for three goals in the opening three minutes of the second half. The first goal came just 38 seconds into the half, when Grant Sicard took advantage of mishandled ball in goal and found the back of the net, giving Coker the 1-0 lead. Not to be outdone, Aladdin Elfares found the back of the net just seconds later, poking the ball away from Chowan's keeper and padding the Coker lead to 2-0. The Hawks began to stage their comeback, scoring a goal off a corner kick at the 48-minute mark, however the Cobras would hold them at bay for the remaining 42 minutes to secure the 2-1 victory.

Sicard and Elfares led the way with one goal apiece, both their first of the season. Chris Bordelon, Alvaro Urena, Matt Trimby, Jacob Simonis and Joby Griggs all registered shots on goal. Michael Ritterbeck finished the 90 minutes with nine saves, only allowing the one Chowan goal.

The Cobras will be back in action on Sunday (Sept. 11) for game two of the three-game homestand. The Cobras will face the Moccasins of Florida Southern College at 3:30 p.m. with the gates of the Coker Athletic Field opening at 2:30 p.m.

McDonald's Player of the Game – Aladdin Elfares