The North Greenville Trailblazers opened conference play in impressive fashion this evening in Belmont, North Carolina, earning a 2-0 victory over the Belmont Abbey Crusaders. Ezra Hoffman provided the eventual game-winning goal in the first half before Zac Zborovsky added an insurance goal late in the second. Cohen Brinkley and the NGU defense recorded their first shutout of the season. The victory improved North Greenville to 1-3 overall and 1-0 in Conference Carolinas play.
North Greenville came out aggressively, generating several opportunities during the opening minutes. Conor Campbell recorded the first shot just 35 seconds into the match before Emilio Galeas struck the right post in the fourth minute. Warren Traina and Campbell later put put up a shot, but Belmont Abbey goalkeeper Jackson Bennett made both saves.
The Trailblazers struck in the 30th minute. Hoffman, who entered as a substitute in the 16th minute, found the back of the net at 29:43 to put North Greenville ahead 1-0, Hoffman's first goal of the season. He nearly added another before halftime, putting a shot on goal in the 43rd minute that was stopped by Bennett. NGU carried the lead into halftime after leading in shots 8-3 during the opening 45 minutes.
Belmont Abbey increased the pressure after halftime, recording 11 shots throughout the second period. However, Brinkley and the North Greenville defense were able to keep the Crusaders off the board. Brinkley made three saves in each half and finished the night with six as Belmont Abbey was held scoreless despite putting six of 14 attempts on goal.
North Greenville put the match away in the 84th minute. Zborovsky, who came off the bench, scored at the 83:23 mark to extend the lead to 2-0. It was also his first goal of the season. Zborovsky finished with three shots and put two on goal in 32 minutes of action.
Hoffman also finished with three shots and two on goal, while Traina put both of his attempts on target. Campbell recorded two shots with one on goal. North Greenville finished with 12 shots and seven on goal compared to 14 shots and six on goal for Belmont Abbey. The Crusaders held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Brinkley played all 90 minutes in goal and stopped all six shots he faced to secure the shutout. Tomas Cabrera, Alec Myers, Rodrigo Silva and Sacha Cormier also went the full 90 minutes as the Trailblazer defense delivered its first shutout of the season.
North Greenville returns home on Saturday, September 12Â to face Emmanuel University at Pepsi Stadium.
