FAYETTE, Mo. - A high-scoring first half for (RV) Central Methodist proved too much for Spartan Men's Soccer to overcome, despite a late effort.
Taking on another opponent gaining national recognition, Missouri Baptist was put in a hole early by the fellow Heart member Eagles. CMU converted the first two shot attempts of the game into goals, the pair coming in the 8th and 9th minutes respectively.
The Spartans fought through their slow start, putting pressure back on Central Methodist. Multiple scoring attempts finally became fruitful when, in the 34th minute, Elymane Ahouissoussi scored his first goal at Missouri Baptist off the cross from Nate Boos.
The Eagles would allow the one-point deficit to remain for just over three minutes before retaliating with their third first half goal. MBU would enter the half down two.
Unsatisfied with their current lead, Central Methodist added one more goal to their nightly total, striking first in the second half during the 56th minute.
Missouri Baptist would respond, but the effort proved to be too little too late. In the 72nd minute, the Spartans forced CMU to commit an own goal, cutting the deficit to two. And, with just minutes left to play, Iker Alvarez headed in his second goal of the season, the first since the season opener against UMSL, off a pass from Adel Smajlovic.
In the end, Missouri Baptist would fall just short of Central Methodist, 4-3. Sean Stone manned the goal for 90 minutes tonight, saving one shot.
"It's another failed opportunity," said Head Coach Roosevelt Peters about the loss. "Another disappointing show out. I think we once again made mistakes early in the game, not concentrated, and just not good enough from us. Our second half, we showed character and put some goals up on the board, but any time you are going to concede four goals, you are not going to win the game. It is disappointing, once again, we score three goals, away, and we don't have a result out of it. Welcome to the Heart of America. If you don't show up, you get punished, and sometimes it is an uphill battle. There are nine games and 27 points. We have to be ready for it."
Missouri Baptist Men's Soccer returns to Spartan Field on Saturday, Oct. 3rd at 4 p.m. for a fifth-straight contest against a nationally recognized opponent, this time facing (RV) Benedictine College.
