FERRUM, Virginia – Ferrum College Men's soccer team made history this afternoon, earning the program and school's first-ever Conference Carolina win with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Erskine College at Penn-Roediger Field.
RECORDS
Ferrum College 2-0 (1-0)
Erskine College 0-1 (0-1)
THE BASICS
Senior forward
Payton Rausch delivered a standout performance, scoring both goals for the Panthers—including a stunning game-winner off a free kick in the final minute of regulation. Junior goalkeeper
Michael Arzillo came up big between the posts, making three crucial saves to help secure the milestone result.
Rausch opened the scoring early in the 11th minute, finishing a sharp attacking move assisted by
Jadon Brooks and
Fili Asfha. The Panthers maintained the lead until the 37th minute, when Erskine's Marcus Martinez equalized on an assist from Sean O'Laughlin, sending the match into halftime at 1-1.
The second half was a physical, back-and-forth battle, with both teams pressing for a winner. With just over 30 seconds left in regulation, Ferrum earned a free kick just outside the box. Rausch stepped up and delivered a curling strike over the wall and into the goal to give Ferrum the late 2-1 lead—sealing the program and school's first win in Conference Carolinas play.
KEY STATS
Ferrum: Rausch 2 goals, Brooks 1 assist, Ashfa 1 assist, Arzillo 3 saves
Erskine: Martinez 1 goal, O'Laughlin 1 assist
BEHIND THE WHISTLE
"This one means a lot—it's our first Conference Carolinas win for our program and the school. I'm incredibly proud of the guys," said Head Coach
Matt Cureton. "They've been putting in the work day in and day out, and today it paid off. We'll enjoy this one briefly, but heads are down and we're already focused on next week."
UP NEXT
Coach Cureton's team will be back in action Wednesday, September 17
th against Virginia Military Institute. Kick off in Lexington, Virginia is set for 4:00 p.m
