Wednesday, May 2, 2012
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads took their second consecutive victory, and recorded their third consecutive shutout, with a 3-0 win against Antigua Barracuda FC at Legion Stadium on Wednesday night. Andriy Budnyy scored twice, giving him three goals in two games, while Alex Horwath made five saves to record the shutout.
Wilmington wasted no time finding the back of the net as Budnyy looped a shot into the left corner of the net in the ninth minute. The Hammerheads then doubled their lead four minutes later as midfielder Bryce Taylor scored his second goal of the season. After a half-cleared corner, a cross from the left by Dylan Riley dropped at Taylor’s feet in front of Barracudas goalkeeper Molvin James, who was able to get a hand on the finish but unable to keep the ball out of the net.
Horwath was sharp at the other end, making an early save to keep the game scoreless before Budnyy opened the scoring. The former New York Red Bull made four of his five saves in the first half, including a good stop to deny Antigua’s Stefan Smith from the right side of the penalty area.
The pace slowed in the second half as Antigua reduced the Hammerheads’ number of chances. Budnyy went close midway through the half, but he was able to add a third in the 76th minute, taking advantage of Daniel Roberts’ through-ball into the right side of the penalty area before shooting low into the left corner of the net.
The Hammerheads will now head west as the get right back to work on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET against the Los Angeles Blues at Sherbeck Field. The two teams meet again on Sunday, also at 8 p.m., at Titan Stadium in a game that can be seen on USLNation.com. Antigua will head south to face the Charleston Battery on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET at Blackbaud Stadium in a game that can also be seen on USLNation.com.