ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist Men's Soccer started the 2019 campaign in style on Wednesday afternoon with a 4-2 victory over Evangel University (Mo.). The Spartans toppled the Crusaders in the season opener for the second consecutive year after a 1-0 win in Springfield last August.  
 
The Spartans started fast with two goals inside the first 10 minutes. In the fifth minute, freshman Louie Perez sent a cross into the Evangel box. The ball took a deflection before eventually falling to Mo. Bap defender Richie Taylor, who was waiting at the back post. Taylor blasted it in to the wide open goal for a 1-0 MBU advantage.
 
A little less than five minutes later, midfielder Antonio Bussu played a long ball over the top and forward Cullen Barr ran onto it for a breakaway. The Spartans' leading goal scorer from 2018 had no issue with the finish, slotting it home to double the home side's lead.
 
Evangel cut the deficit in half in the 12^th minute and the match eventually went into halftime with a 2-1 score line. The Spartans would regain their two-goal lead in the 53^rd minute. Once again, it was Perez and Barr powering the offense. Perez eluded an Evangel defender near the sideline and broke away into open space. The Pattonville HS product laid a perfect pass into the feet of Barr who one-touched it home for his second goal of the day.
 
The Crusaders still refused to go away and, in the 61^st minute, again trimmed the MBU advantage to just one. It would stay 3-2 into the final five minutes of the match.
 
After a long stretch of play in the defensive end of the field, the Spartans finally countered and got the insurance goal they needed with four minutes left. A long throw-in by Evangel deflected off an MBU player and looked to be headed out for a corner kick. But freshman Dom Smith was able to keep the ball in play and advanced it forward to Kristian Dimitrov. With most of the Evangel players pushing forward, only one man was left back to try and defend Dimitrov and fellow forward Andrew Stuhlman.
 
Dimitrov spotted Stuhlman ahead played a ball into space for another breakaway. The junior eluded Crusaders' keeper Josiah Dinwiddie, who came out to challenge, and slotted the Spartans' fourth goal of the day into the gaping net.
 
"The boys showed a lot of improvement in training this week," noted Head Coach Jake Alvernia. "We still have a bit to go but a lot of positives to take from today. I was pleased with some of our combination play today and willingness to get forward.  All in all, for our first game, I was pleased overall and thought the boys worked hard."
 
With two assists on the afternoon, freshman Louie Perez earned 'Man of the Match' honors. The Spartans outshot the Crusaders 19-16 with 11 attempts on target.
 
MBU will be back in action next Monday, August 26, when Judson University (Ill.) comes to town. Kickoff at CBC Field is once again scheduled for noon.