David Nester's (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) goal just 1:24 into the game proved to be the difference as the EMU soccer men beat Ferrum in their home opener, 1-0, Saturday afternoon in Harrisonburg.  The Royals snapped a three-game skid with the win before quickly turning around for another road date Sunday afternoon at Frostburg State.

It was a quick start for Eastern Mennonite, as Jake Lind (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) pushed up the left wing and sent a loping pass across the front of the goal, pulling out Ferrum's keeper.  Nester touched it in for his second score of the young season.

The Royals controlled much of the first half and came close to adding some cushion to their lead.  In the 25th minute freshman Dominic Powers (Culpeper, Va./Fiesta Valley) stuck a nice shot to the right side of the goal, but an FC defender was there to clear it out.  Later on, Dave Drafton (Alexandria, Va./Howard Gardner) found a loose ball after the Panthers' keeper collided with a teammate, but Drafton's attempt skimmed just high.

Play was more balanced in the second half, but neither team had many quality scoring chances.  Ferrum's last kick at the goal came in the 74th minute, with sophomore Matthew Overacker (Mount Crawford, Va./Turner Ashby) scooping it up for his sixth save to register his first collegiate shutout.

Eastern Mennonite had a 21-13 advantage in shots, including 9-6 on goal.  Lind finished with a game high five shots to go with his assist.  Nester and Jackson Taylor (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) each had three attempts.

The men improved to 2-3 with the win.  Game time Sunday at Frostburg State is 3:30pm.

Coach Roger Mast talks about his team's play in their first home game of 2015: