December 1978 - CROSSROADS - Page 7
Soccer Team Boasts 16-5 Record
Belmont Abbey College soccer coach George Kennedy
has completed his second season at the helm of the
Abbey’s soccer program after posting 16 wins and 5
losses as a season record.
Coach Kennedy’s team, which is composed primarily
of underclassmen, out scored their opponents as a whole
by 43 goals. They allowed only 22 goals to be scored
against them while scoring 65 goals for the Abbey’s
cause.
The Crusaders’ defensive ball pressure and the fine
play of goalie Matt Kennedy, who had 85 saves and nine
shutouts for the season, proved too tough for most teams
to penetrate.
Leading those who were responsible for the Abbey’s 60
goals was Tony Suarez, who scored 19 goals in 19 games.
Others who aided in scoring were Frank Lawson with
nine goals, Melchor Palomo with seven, Gino Leon with
six and Dave Pierce with five goals.
Head coach George Kennedy gives the following ac
count of the 1978 season:
Catawba - Sept. 5 - Score: BAC 9 - Catawba 0
“This was our opening team. We didn’t play, but
we managed to play the entire team. We did much ex
perimenting with positions and tactics. We finally used a
pass back to draw their defense out to us so we would
have room for our shots. Tony Suarez scored two goals
and had one assist.”
Winthrop - Sept. 12 - Score: BAC 4 - Winthrop 1
“We were organized in this game and began to come
together as a team. We allowed only 17 shots at the goal,
but we were still not adjusted to the pressure of a fast
paced game or stopping a reckless opponent. We
changed tactics at half time and began to take our time
and focus on ball control. We played much better with
this adjustment. Melchor Palomo scored two goals,
while Tony Suarez and Dave Pierce each had two
assists.”
F.l.T. - Sept. 15 - Score: BAC 9 - F.I.T. 1
“Our guys played great and totally dominated the
game in every respect. I managed to play the whole
team against a well skilled team which lacked only
discipline and fitness to be a winning team. Tony Suarez
scored three goals, while Gino Leon and Frank Lawson
added two goals each.”
UNC-Asheville-Sept. 16-Score: BAC3-UNC-A0
“This was the first time we showed some composure
under pressure, but we did not maintain it for the entire
game. Overall, our defense was organized, but our at
tack wasted many opportunities at the goal. I was
pleased that we held them to only four shots at the goal.
Dave Pierce, Rick Hansen and Tony Suarez scored for
the Abbey.”
UNCC-Sept. 19-Score: BAC2-UNCC1
“This was our first overtime game, and the pressure
was up. Our goal keeper Matt Kennedy was injured and
rushed to the hospital. The team found it hard to
demonstrate composure because of pressure and the bad
officiating. Rock Robinson scored for the Abbey and
Tony Suarez put in the overtime goal.”
St. Andrews - Sept. 20 - Score: BAC 2 - St. Andrews 0
“Both teams played very well this game. Good passing
and control by St. Andrews forced our defense to play
intelligently. We played through the pressure and were
able to move into our offense and keep our ball control
steady. We finally found their weakness in the middle as
Matt Kennedy and Gino Leon scored goals.”
Clemson - Sept. 25 - Score: BAC 0 - Clemson I
“We were very organized this game, especially our
defense. The organization and discipline with which we
played seem to panic the players of Clemson.
“Clemson’s Coach, Dr. Ibraham labeled us as one of
^ the best coached teams Clemson faced. Also, Flavio
Sabello, a scout for the New York Cosmos, com
plimented the Abbey’s players by saying, ‘The game
was the best I’ve seen Clemson play in the last seven
years, and Belmont Abbey College proved to be a most
formidable opponent. The game could have gone either
way.’
“Despite all these compliments, I still feel that we
needed to play with more killer instinct while on the
attack. We missed opportunities when we had them
(Clemson) on the run.”
NOTE: Clemson was ranked second in the United States
and scored their only goal on a free kick.
Jacksonville University - Sept. 29 - Score: BAC 3 - J.U. 2
“This was our first game of the Emory Invitational,
and we were up against a tough Jacksonville team which
was ranked fourth in the South and possessed two All-
American players.
“After going out at the half down 2 -1, we came back
with a super team effort and managed to pull out a 3-2
victory with a goal by Tony Suarez with 21 seconds left
on the clock.
“This great win, which gave the players a much
needed shot of confidence, enabled us to win the tour
nament. Tony Suarez led the Abbey with two goals.”
Emory College - Sept. 30 - Score: BAC 2 - Emory 0
“We won our first tournament by defeating Emory
with two goals scored by Tony Suarez and Frank
Lawson. The team played well against a highly
motivated opponent.”
Toccoa Falls - Oct. 6 - Score: BAC 7 - Toccoa 0
"We defeated Toccoa Falls with a good balance of
scoring as six of our players made the scoring chart.
Toccoa was weak with injuries, and we dominated even
though we did not play well. Our offense amassei a total
of 50 at the goal, while our defense gave up only three at
the goal of our opponents.” \
Pfeiffer - Oct. 7 - Score: BAC 1 - Pfeiffer 0
“This was a nice game as we posted a shutout over
Pfeiffer at their homecoming. Tony Suarez scored the
only goal on an assist by David Pierce. Richard Rice
came in for injured Matt Kennedy and did a fine job as
goal keeper. The team was mentally ready and shut out
all distractions for the first time all season.”
Lenoir-Rhyne-Oct.9-Score: BAC2-L-R1
“The team did not play well, but we completely
dominated the game. Our offense totaled 56 shots at the
goal with Frank Lawson, scoring on an assist from Matt
Kennedy, and Mel Palomo, assisted by Rick Hansen,
accounting for the Abbey scores.”
Rollins College - Oct. 13 - Score: BAC 0 - Rollins 6
“This was game one of our Florida tour, which proved
to be a nightmare. There were many reasons why we
lost. We could not score, our strong points of
(x-ganization broke down enabling Rollins to penetrate
and score, the players were at each other’s throats and
mentally, we were not experienced to handle that kind of
pressure”
University of Tampa - Oct. 14 - Score: BAC 0 - U.T. 2
“Again we were defeated in our second game of the
tour. We had hoped the players could make the ad
justments which would be needed to win, but again we
were shut out and allowed a weaker team to beat us.”
Embry-Riddle-Aeronautical - f)ct. 15 - Score: BAC 2 -
E.R. 3
“This was our third game in three days, and the
players were weary. Morale seemed higher, but we
still lost. We did finally manage to score after two
shutouts, but we were still playing poorly. We returned
home to find our record of 11-1 had dilapidated to a
record of 11-4. We had a team meeting, discussed our
problems and focused on winning our last four district
games.”
Baptist College-Oct. 20-Score: BAC 5 • Baptist 0
“This was our first game back home. We had resolved
the Florida problems and were now ready to play. Our
defense held Baptist to only three goal shots, while our
offense accumulated 29 goal shots. Scott Byrum led the
scorers with two goals while Gino Leon, Melchor Palomo
and Frank Lawson each added one goal.”
Elon College-Oct. 26-Score: BAC8-EionO
“We completely dominated this game.- Frank Lawson
led all scorers with only three goals, followed by Tony
Suarez with two.”
Warren Wilson - Oct. 28 - Score: BAC 2 - Warren Wilson 0
“We had never beaten Warren Wilson in soccer. We
were all ready to play as a team, and the guys played one
of their best controlled games. Tony Suarez and Dave
Pierce scored for the Abbey, and Tony Suarez was
named the ‘Pepsi Cola Player of the Game.’ ”
Campbell College - Nov. 4 - Score: BAC 4 - Campbell 0
“This was our best game all season. We had an even
mixture of steady control and surprising scores and
were able to defeat Campbell at their homecoming.
Dave Pierce and Tony Suarez each scored two goals in
the final district game of the season. District play-offs
began with the Abbey’s record at 15-4.”
Guilford - Nov. 8 - Score: BAC 3 Guilford 2
“Guilford was the defending District 26 champion, and
we were the top seeded team. It was a very tough game
which went into triple overtime (sudden death). In the
118th minute of play, Greg Heilman rocketed a loose ball
deflected by Tony Suarez to score the final goal and send
BAC into the finals of the District 26 play-offs.”
Pfeiffer - Nov. II - Score: BAC 1 - Pfeiffer 2
“The team had no excuse. We played hard and gave it
our best efforts but just couldn’t put the ball into the net.
We had the opportunities, but just couldn’t capitalize on
them.”
Belmont Abbey’s season was the most successful ever
and with most of the team returning to next year’s
squad, the Crusaders are anxious to begin the ’79 season,
so anxious that they are already practicing with indoor
games, weights and full matches.
Mrs. Belmont Celebrates 100th Birthday
by MRS. JANE FREEMAN
On December 13, Mrs. August
Belmont of New York City
celebrated her lOOth birthday.
The citizens of Belmont and
those associated with Belmont
Abbey College take a special
interest in knowing that the
daughter-in-law of the first
August Belmont has carried the
name of Belmont as proudly as
the town. The town of Belmont
takes pride in its association
with one of America’s foremost
families.
Abbot Leo Haid, the first
Abbot of Mary-Help-of-
Christians Abbey, was a friend
of the Belmont family. Not long
after Abbot Leo arrived, the
name of the town was changed
from Garibaldi to Belmont in
honor of the benefactors. The
name of the college was
changed to Belmont Abbey
Clollege in 1913, and the
Monastery is popularly referred
to as Belmont Abbey. ^
Mrs. Eleanor Belmont (nee
Robson) was bom in Wigan,
Lancashire, England. She came
to the United States with her
mother before the turn of the
century, and made her stage
debut in San Francisco. She
starred in many successful
plays in the early 1900’s --
“Merely Mary Ann,” “The
Dawn of Tomorrow,” “She
Stoops to Conquer,” and
“Fabric of Memory.” George
Bernard Shaw is reported to
have been captivated by her
portrayal of Mary Ann, and
wrote Major Barbara for her.
Unfortunately, she never
played the part.
Eleanor Robson married
Major August Belmont in 1910
and retired from the stage. But
the love for the performing arts
never died! She and her
husband were regular opera
attendees. Major Belmont
served on the Board of Direc
tors of the Metropolitan Opera
from 1906 until his death in 1924.
Mrs. Belmont was elected to the
Board of Directors in 1933. She
gave herself tirelessly to the
founding and nurturing of the
Metropolitan Opera Guild, and
is credited by Laurence Lovett
with having “saved the
Metropolitan Opera.” .Many
local people know of Mrs.
Belmont through the Texaco
broadcasts on Saturday af
ternoons on WCGC, Belmont’s
radio station.
The legendary Mrs. Belmont
has been outstanding in many
fields: the arts, philanthrophy,
and public speaking. She was
the first woman to deliver a
commencement address at New
York University (1924) and the
first woman passenger in an
airplane (1911).