BUIES CREEK, N.C. - An early goal by Coastal Carolina's Ricky Garbanzo held up as the Chanticleers defeated Campbell 1-0 on Saturday evening in the Camels' Big South opener at the Eakes Athletics Complex.
Garbanzo's goal at the 4:54 mark came as a result of a pass from beyond midfield by Uchenna Uzo. Bryce Follensbee collected the ball and headed it down to Garbanzo's feet near the center of the penalty box and the preseason Big South Attacking Player of the Year beat redshirt freshman goalkeeper Matthew Mozynski to the upper right corner for what would prove to be the game-winner.
Eight of Campbell's 10 field players were on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, including freshman Bradley Farias who had two of the Camels' three shots on goal. Between the pipes, Mozynski played the full match and made six saves on attempts by the Chanticleers.
Senior Jhuvon Francis made his third appearance of the season for Campbell, playing 48 minutes and notching his first shot on goal of the 2014 season.
Coastal Carolina pressed Mozynski into action out of the gate, collecting its first shot on goal just 18 seconds into the contest off the foot of Follensbee. The Bellingham, Mass., native staved off the early attack with a save and prevented a quick go-ahead goal for the Chanticleers.
Despite surrendering the goal to Garbanzo, Mozynski rebounded and made three saves over the next seven minutes to keep Coastal Carolina from expanding its lead.
Farias gave Campbell its best first-half chance to equalize in the 26th minute. Finding space just behind Coastal Carolina's defense, the freshman fired a high shot that was punched over the bar by goalkeeper Devin Cook-Perales for a corner. Freshman Hernan Mogollon lined up the set piece but Campbell could not create a chance off the opportunity.
Just two minutes later, the Chanticleers nearly built a two-goal lead as Mozynski was caught out of position on a header by Garbanzo. Sophomore Matt Martinez came in from the left side and cleared the shot away, crediting the Camels with a team save in the process.
In the final minute of the first half, the Chanticleers' Martin Melchor took a chance from just outside the penalty box, but the shot struck the upper part of the left post to send the two sides into the halftime break.
After Coastal Carolina was reduced to 10 men following Tommy Gudmundsson's red card in the 65th minute, Campbell was able to apply more pressure to Cook-Perales in goal. Farias again found his target in the 76th minute, but the goalkeeper maintained his clean sheet with a save.
Francis had the final chance of the night for the Camels in the 89th minute, but Cook-Perales controlled the shot to give the Chanticleers the 1-0 win.
Campbell will return to action on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. as the Camels make the short trip to Chapel Hill to face No. 14 North Carolina. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series 18-6-1, and Campbell will be seeking its first win since a 2-0 victory on Oct. 28, 2008, in Buies Creek.
