Bell Scores Early to Break Record During Spartans’ 2-1 Victory Versus Hiram
HIRAM, Ohio – All-American senior forward Vinny Bell (Parma Heights, Ohio/Valley Forge) scored just 40 seconds into Wednesday night's match against host Hiram College and junior midfielder Ross Twanmoh (Fallston, Md./Fallston) scored with just three minutes left in regulation helping lead the Case Western Reserve University men's soccer team past the Terriers by a 2-1 score at Henry Field.
Bell's goal Wednesday gives him 12 goals on the season to go along with four assists. Each total is a team-high mark, and the 12 goals move him past the mark of 11 set by RJ French in 2006, Kevin Bigart in 2006 and Mark Ruegsegger in 1992 for the single-season record. In addition, Bell moved into a tie with Bigart for the top spot all-time in Spartan history with 35 career goals.
As has been the norm this fall, Bell's early goal gave the Spartans a quick 1-0 lead, and they possessed that advantage through the halftime intermission. Bell punched home the record goal following the Spartans applying pressure and obtaining a corner kick. Twanmoh took the corner opportunity and was credited with the assist giving him a pair of helpers for the season.
With time winding down in the final minutes of regulation, Twanmoh put the visiting Spartans up for good with his second goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Dominic Carusone (Kettering, Ohio/Dayton Carroll) notched his second assist of the season and third of his career on the play.
In the 70th minute, Hiram knotted the match at 1-1 with a goal from Daniel O'Callaghan and assisted by Ryan Minick.
In goal for the Spartans, senior Ben Yabrow (Marietta, Ga./George Walton Comprehensive) and the rest of the Spartan defensive unit shut down a Terrier offense that came into the match averaging 3.88 goals per game. The fourth-year Spartan posted two saves, while Hiram's Joe Rottinger collected seven stops.
With the win, the Spartans improve to 8-3 overall and will return to University Athletic Association action on Sunday, October 9, when they take on Brandeis University (Mass.) at 11:00 a.m. at Case Field. With its loss, Hiram dips to 5-3-1.
