Hawks Shut Out Dragons

The College of Southern Maryland Hawks men's soccer team shut out the Howard Community College Dragons 4-0 on Tuesday, September 26 in Columbia, Maryland.

Freshman defender Bryce Wilcher recorded a hat trick and sophomore forward Nomen Felix Mbia Sampson provided his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

Wilcher scored his first goal in the seventh minute when he put back a save the Howard goalie couldn't corral off a free-kick shot from freshman forward Eliass Elfasoukhi.

Mbia Sampson put the Hawks up 2-0 in the 71st minute. After freshman goalkeeper Baptiste Berthozat sent a punt into CSM's offensive third that Howard defenders couldn't settle, Mbia Sampson gained possession and fired his shot into the left side of the goal. Mbia Sampson ranks fourth among Region 20 Division II players in goals with 10.

Wilcher scored his second goal in the 80th minute after the Howard goalie again could not corral a shot from Elfasoukhi. Elfasoukhi charged into the left side of the penalty box after receiving a pass from Mbia Sampson and took a shot that was saved toward Wilcher, who was following the play ready for the rebound on the right side of the goal.

Elfasoukhi is second among Region 20 Division II players in assists with nine.

Wilcher collected his hat trick in the final minute of the game. Similar to Mbia Sampson's goal, Howard defenders couldn't control a punt from Berthozat that landed in CSM's offensive third, but freshman forward Mekai Hospedales did. Hospedales fought to get past a Howard defender and took a shot that was deflected by the Howard goalie to Wilcher who was again in the right spot at the right time to knock his fifth goal of the year home.

Berthozat tied his season-high with eight saves for his second clean sheet of the year.

CSM improved to 6-4-2 overall and 2-2-1 in Region 20 Division II.

Up Next: The Hawks face the Anne Arundel Community College Riverhawks on Tuesday, October 3 at 4 p.m. in Arnold, Maryland.