ST. LOUIS, Mo.- After getting a great win against Mid-Continent, the Missouri Baptist men's soccer team was able to pull the upset by getting their first conference win and extending their win streak to two, with a 2-1 thrilling victory over Park University.
As soon as the whistle started the game, both teams took off showing off their speed and offensive skills. The Pirates were a bit more offensive minded in the first half totaling 14 shots to the Spartans six.
Park was able to grab advantage in the 12th minute, as after a shot by Park tipped off the hands of MBU goalie Ethan Brunk, the ball found the head of Anass Moudfir who flicked it in for the goal, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans didn't give up though, as the team started to cut off the Pirate quick passes and started getting their offense going. In the 30th minute, the team was able to tie the game up 1-1, as Nick Farrell scored his first goal of the season with a great long shot that found the back of the net.
After halftime, the pace of the game picked up even more as each team was looking to gain the lead. The Spartan defense picked up their play, holding Park to just seven shots in the second half.
With the clock continuing to tick down, the Spartans continued to feel the momentum shift their way, with the fans behind them. Brunk kept Park out of the net, making key saves and totaling 11 on the evening.
Then, in the 85th minute a corner kick by Joe Whitacre was cut off by Park, but was kicked out of bounds giving MBU another chance. Gavin Cuddy this time, took the corner kick and placed it perfect right in front of the net, that found the head of Oscar Rojas who was quicker than the Park defense and was able flick the ball into the back of the net, giving MBU a huge 2-1 lead.
It wasn't over yet though, as the team knew how fast the Pirates could score. The Spartans held tight defensively, kicking the ball out as far as they could making Park chase after it. The team was able to hold on for the win, which was very important to the team and coach Deno Merrick.
"An MBU vs. Park matchup is always a good match for neutral fans. A first conference win against a good team as Park will boost the confidence throughout the team." said Merrick. Before this game, close games weren't in the Spartan favor as the team has lost four games this year by just one goal.
Coach Merrick saw a lot of great things out of his team tonight, which he hopes they take into their next game. "As a team we took care of the small issues today and we were consistent with our work ethic and commitment." said Merrick.
The Spartans now move their record to 3-10, but will head on the road for a big game against #12 ranked Missouri Valley on October 16th. Game time will start at 8:00 p.m.
