ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Freshman Josh Phillips scored in the 83rd minute to break a late tie and give Missouri Baptist a 2-1 victory over Williams Baptist Tuesday afternoon.
The win gave Missouri Baptist (5-11, 3-7) its third in four games and kept the team's playoffs hopes alive. After neither team scored in the first half, the Spartans got the final say when Phillips found the net in the 83rd minute.
"The boys played like poet warriors today," said Missouri Baptist head coach Jake Alvernia. "With playoffs in the balance we controlled the game and played with tremendous poise."
Gerardo Espinoza broke the scoreless tie less than three minutes after halftime. Espinoza received a pass from Thales Teixeira and drilled his shot past the Eagles goalie Javier Piedra.
The goal was a welcomed sight for the Spartans, who fired 14 shots (seven on goal) in the first half, but came up empty. Eduardo Mendes-Maia hit the crossbar with his shot in the 14th minute.
"We probably should have been up two goals in the first half but missed chances," Alvernia said. "Earlier in the season this would have killed us. The boys are starting to believe."
The Spartans held onto their one-goal lead for nearly 30 minutes, until Williams Baptist netted the equalizer in the 74th minute. Jan Striewe snuck one past Spartan goalie Brendan Carnahan off a pass from Andrei Leal. The goal was Striewe's third of the season.
The late Williams Baptist goal set up Phillips' heroics less than nine minutes later. The connection went Rafael Rangel to Erick Ocampo to Phillips, who knocked in the game-winner.
Phillips has now scored in back-to-back games and has five goals in his last four games. Espinoza has scored in four straight games. Both extended their season total to a team-high seven.
Tuesday's win sets up a big showdown on Saturday afternoon against Lyon College. The Spartans will likely need a win to advance to the American Midwest Conference Tournament. Senior Day from CBC Field kicks off at 3:00 p.m.
