Box Score ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] The AMC's top team Hannibal-LaGrange slowed down Missouri Baptist Tuesday in the Spartans 2-0 loss.
The Spartans (7-5-3, 4-4 AMC) weren't able to generate any offense against a tough Trojans (9-3-2, 8-0 AMC) team. It marked the first time the team was shutout since September 13th against William Woods.
The game stood at a scoreless tie until Claudio Rivadeneira knocked home an impressive goal in the 32ndminute. Off a corner kick, Rivadeneira stood alone at the top of the box. He took the high-arching pass off his chest and onto his right foot. The junior immediately struck the ball into the corner of the net to put the Trojans on top.
Aris Nukic quickly answered with a shot from the left wing, but to no luck. Unfortunately for the Spartans that's all the shots they would generate in this one. Hannibal-LaGrange has now allowed just one goal in its past seven games.
Led by Ben Randolph and Ramon Contreras, the defense fared well in limiting the Trojans to two goals, but the Spartans, like every other AMC team HLG has faced, found that it's tough to score on the conference's top team.
Rivadeneira added another goal in the 67th minute to give Hannibal a two-goal advantage. The junior from Chile now has 10 goals and nine assists on the season to lead the AMC with 29 points. Rivadeneira and Ignacio Garrido combined for 11 of HLG's 20 total shots.
The Spartans will look to rebound on Saturday at Lyon. That match is set to start at 1:00 pm.
