SPARTANS SUFFER FIRST BLEMISH OF SEASON WITH 4-2 LOSS
Joel Devick
PULASKI, Tenn. – The flying start of five victories over the first three weeks for Missouri Baptist men's soccer was brought down in agonizing fashion on Thursday night. The first road test of the season brought with it the first loss to University of Tennessee Southern (UTS) by a final of 4 to 2.
Much like last year's thrilling matchup between the two sides, a 5-4 overtime win for MoBap in St. Louis, it was a goal-scoring affair between the Spartans and Firehawks. No. 23 MBU (5-1) looked sluggish to start, allowing a goal to UTS (5-1) off the foot of Carlos Galan from a rebound in the first 10 minutes (8:34), and needed to stage a first half comeback.
The Spartans would manage it though, scoring two goals to go to the locker rooms ahead 2-1. After getting out the jitters from the first 20 minutes of the contest, forward
Eliman Kane received a through ball to the right side of the box from
Matteo Uez. Kane would power it home in the top right corner to knot things at one goal apiece (24:05).
With three minutes left in the period, right back
Brendan McAllister found himself in space in the midfield and played the ball in to leading MBU goalscorer
Louie Perez's path. Perez would slot it past a diving Firehawks keeper to register his sixth of the year (41:53). The Firehawks had a chance at leveling it with a penalty kick 90 seconds from intermission, but MoBap goalkeeper
Matteo Gigliozzi staved off another tie with a diving save on the attempt to keep the lead in MBU's hands.
The Spartan advantage would still be short lived, however, as UTS came flying out of the halftime break. Manuel Flores' goal off a cross 30 ticks into the second would again tie things. MBU would go up a man soon after a red card saw UTS defender Cedric Feddeck get sent off in the 58th minute, but the Spartans were unable to capitalize and gave up two shorthanded goals over the final half hour of the game to surrender its first loss of the 2022 campaign.
Along with the numerous goals for both sides, the game saw numerous foul calls. There were 19 warnings given to the Firehawks and 16 to the Spartans. The game had another red go to the MBU bench after discussions following the fourth Tennessee Southern goal with the officials were met with two quick yellow cards to the visitors. In total, 10 yellows were put into the book, with seven going down for MoBap.
The Missouri Baptist road trip continues Saturday, when the Spartans will seek to right the ship against the (RV) Bethel Wildcats on Sept. 17th at 4 p.m. in McKenzie, Tenn.
