BATESVILLE, Ark. – Missouri Baptist men's soccer extended its unbeaten streak to five games with a 1-0 victory over Lyon College (Ark.) on Saturday afternoon. At the halfway point of the conference schedule, the Spartans are squarely in the hunt at the top of the AMC standings.
The Scots started fast with two early chances but one was denied by MBU keeper
Davide Bucarelli and the other sailed wide.
At the offensive end, the Spartans' didn't waste their first scoring opportunity. In the 13
th minute,
Jona Oesterling sent a corner kick into the penalty area and
Richie Taylor was able to use his 6'4" height advantage to head home past Lyon keeper Vicente Alamos. The freshman's first career goal put Missouri Baptist in the driver's seat at 1-0. Bucarelli would make six total saves in the first 45 to preserve the lead heading into halftime.
The Spartans came into Saturday a perfect 6-0 when scoring the first goal and they weren't about to let that streak be spoiled on this day. Lyon threw everything they had at the MBU defense in the second half but it was to no avail.
Bucarelli made two more saves in the second half and
Richie Taylor helped out with a shot block as well. For the seventh time in 2018, Bucarelli and the Spartan defense maintained a clean sheet. Senior defender
Jesus Espinosa stepped into the starting lineup and earned 'Man of the Match' recognition.
The final shots on goal count was even at 8-8. The Spartans killed valuable time in the second half with five corner kicks compared to just one for the Scots.
"I thought we had great energy today and a great will to win," commented MBU Head Coach
Jake Alvernia. "Our spirit was great and it was good to see Richie [Taylor] get his first career goal."
Missouri Baptist is now 7-3-2 overall and, more importantly, 3-1-1 in the AMC. The Spartans currently have sole possession of fourth place in the standings and are just two points behind Columbia for the top spot.
The Spartans will be back in action next Saturday, October 6, on the road against St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
