UPLAND, Ind. – MBU Men's Soccer (2-5) exploded for a 4-0 road victory over Taylor University (4-2) on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans will now begin conference play next Saturday on a two-match winning streak.
Coming off an emotional overtime victory on Monday over UT-Southern, the Spartans picked up where they left off on Saturday in Indiana. Freshman
Emilio Hernandez opened the scoring in the 27
th minute. Just on as a sub, Hernandez drew a foul just outside the top of the Taylor penalty area. The Jerseyville, Ill. native took the ensuing free kick himself and curled a perfectly placed ball inside the near post. It was his first career goal.
It was another free kick in the 39
th minute that gave Taylor more problems. A misplayed clearance in the six-yard box left center back
Ross Wilson with an open goal. The 6-7 junior from Scotland converted from close range to make it 2-0.
Coming out of halftime, Mo. Bap was bound to get everything the Trojans had. But in the opening five minutes, two separate corner kick attempts were both blocked away.
At the other end of the field, the Spartans did not waste their chances. Off a short corner kick in the 60
th minute,
Brandon Burton's cross found
Cullen Barr. Barr headed home for a dagger goal to make it 3-0.
Burton would add a goal of his own to complete the scoring in the 76
th minute. Played in by a perfect through ball from
Antonio Bussu, Burton beat the TU goalkeeper to the near post for his second goal of the season and team-leading eighth point.
The Spartans finished with five shots on goal compared to three for Taylor.
Wessel Berenschot reclaimed the starting duties in goal and earned the clean sheet.
"What a team effort today," noted Head Coach
Jake Alvernia. "Man of the Match goes to Cullen [Barr]. He platooned at right back, Nathan [Brock] stepped into the midfield. Good goals. Great energy. Brilliant defending. Clean sheet."
The Spartans have one more non-conference match on September 29. Prior to that however, they'll begin AMC play against (RV) Lyon next Saturday at Spartan Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 pm.
