ST. LOUIS -- [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist battled back to force overtime, but fell 2-1 to the Asbury Eagles after Ryan Metcalf's penalty kick found the net Thursday night.
The Spartans (2-3) fell victim to an unusual sequence late in the overtime period. The referees whistled off Austin Baker's corner kick for Asbury (2-4) with 30 seconds remaining to signal for a yellow card. Baker was able to kick again because the foul on the Eagles occurred prior to the kick.
After the second corner kick attempt, the referees issued a red card to Missouri Baptist midfielder Thales Teixeira in the penalty box. The foul set up a potential game-winning penalty kick between Metcalf and Spartan goalie Brenden Carnahan.
Carnahan dove to his left to stop the kick, but the Eagles were allowed to re-kick after it was decided the Spartans entered the box too early. Metcalf's second attempt snuck inside the left post to seal the Asbury win.
The loss denied Missouri Baptist of its third consecutive victory and second straight overtime win. It also halted the Spartans comeback attempt, as they tied the game with 18 minutes remaining in regulation after digging themselves an early hole.
With the Spartans trailing 1-0, Ben Boyd cruised past two defenders and crossed the ball into the box with his right foot. Gerardo Espinoza charged and struck the ball right past the keeper to give Missouri Baptist the equalizer.
The Spartans controlled the ball for a majority of both halves, but trailed entering the final 45 minutes of regulation due to a few missed opportunities and a late Asbury goal.
The Eagles quickly shifted fields on a thru-ball that found Hudson Diener on the right wing. Diener's cross found the foot of a sliding Craig Moberly that struck the back of the net in the 33rd minute.
Ben Boyd had arguably Missouri Baptist's best opportunity of the game when his shot dinged off the post midway thru the first half. The Spartans continue their Kentucky roadtrip on Saturday when they face St. Catherine College (Ky.).
