BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Filipe Matos scored twice and Campbell defeated Radford 2-1 to open the 2024 season at Eakes Athletics Complex.
Matos found the back of the net in each half, delivering goals early in the 11th minute and late in the 87th minute, for the Camels (1-0) who bested their former Big South rivals.
Campbell went ahead in the first half as Ugo Bertelli slotted a ball to Tai-Reece Chisholm who played it to the endline. Chisholm crossed the ball in front of the goal where Matos struck it off the keeper on a bicycle kick.
Radford knotted the game at 1-1 just 1:20 later as Joep de Bruin headed one in off a corner taken by Florian Senst.
Despite controlling 72 percent of the possession, Campbell couldn't break through until late in the second half when Curtis De Leon channeled a ball to Carson Pina on the left endline. Pina centered the ball in front of the net for Matos who fired it into the top center of the goal.
"We really showed a lot of resilience because it took us so long to break them down," said head coach
Dustin Fonder. "It took us to the last few minutes of the game to get the winner but I think that's going to grow our spirits and grow our group for later on in the season."
Campbell finished with a 14-3 edge in shots and 7-2 on corners.
Max Leviton picked up his first career win between the posts, recording one save for a CU defense that limited the Highlanders to just one shot in the second half.
Campbell continues its 3-match home stand this Sunday at 7 PM vs. NC Wesleyan.
