SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Lindenwood 6, Eastern Illinois 0
@UIW 2, Western Illinois 1
Liberty 1, @HCU 0
LINDENWOOD 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Lindenwood men's soccer (6-4-1, 2-1-0 OVC) posts their second shutout in Ohio Valley Conference play after a 6-0 victory over the Panthers of Eastern Illinois (1-7-1, 0-3-0 OVC). The Lions had six different goal scorers during their home opener in OVC play.
It was an offensive showcase for the Lindenwood Lions after scoring six goals on 23 shots. Of the Lions 23 shots on Sunday, 11 of them were on goal. It marked the most shots on goal this season against a Division I opponent (LU had 14 vs. Westminster).
Lindenwood's defense blanketed Eastern Illinois' forwards as the Panthers had just eight shots at Hunter Stadium with one of them landing on goal. Enzo Gil had only one save in what was a perfect performance by Lindenwood. EIU's goal keeper Chad Smith made five saves in net.
Ethan Blake only needed three minutes to score on Sunday as the Lions' leading goal scorer put Lindenwood on the board. Blake now leads the team in goals with four. John Gates assisted Blake putting LU up 1-0.
Jozef Palushaj kept the momentum going in the first half with his first goal in a Lindenwood uniform. Gates had a shot which ricocheted off of the crossbar giving Palushaj the shot right in front of the net.
Lindenwood scored quickly to open up the second half a Jermaine Mentoor scored his second goal of the season. Jordan Matthews had the assists off of the long cross from the opposite corner. Matthews then scored his own goal during the 63rd minute and was assisted by Salomon Oniangue and Blake. Blake leads the OVC in assists this season with seven.
Oniangue, who was tied for the team lead with four shots, scored his first goal of his career during the 71st minute. Matthews had the assists after guiding Oniangue down the sideline where he scored off his left foot.
Lindenwood capped off the afternoon with their sixth goal off the foot of Jens Haukeland. He was one of three Lions to score their first goal of the season. Anel Kafedzic assisted him at the 87:55 minute mark.
UIW 2, WESTERN ILLINOIS 1
SAN ANTONIO - The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team got their first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season over Western Illinois 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
In the second game of the week the Cardinals found themselves down early again. This time to the Leathernecks, after WIU found the back of the net 20 minutes into the game. UIW responded less than 10 minutes later. Sello Diphoko took a shot from just outside of the box, the defender blocked the shot, but it found the foot of Diego Robles and was sent into the net.
The two teams battled through the rest of the game but in the 78th minute the Cardinals finally broke through. Diego Robles continued to make plays and sent an amazing cross to the head of Peleg Armendariz giving UIW the 2-1.
The Cardinals kept the pressure on the Leathernecks getting several shots off. Even though UIW couldn't add any more points they still were able to hold on and earn their first OVC win of the season, breaking a three-game losing streak, 2-1.
LIBERTY 1, HCU 0
HOUSTON - Midfielder Gabe Findley scored the game’s lone goal and the Flames turned in another solid defensive effort to down the Houston Christian Huskies 1-0, recording their second straight shutout, Sunday evening at Sorrels Field in an Ohio Valley Conference match.
After blanking Incarnate Word 2-0 on Thursday evening, the Flames again put in another strong defensive effort, limiting the host Huskies’ quality shot opportunities and getting timely saves from goalkeeper Owen Moore.
Findley, the OVC’s assist leader, netted his first goal of 2024 during the 26th minute.
Liberty’s defense, especially in its backline, kept HCU in check the rest of the way to register the clean sheet.
The Flames have won three consecutive games and hand the Huskies their first OVC loss. Liberty remains unbeaten in conference with a 3-0 in OVC play and 5-3-1 overall.
HCU has its three-game winning streak snapped, falling to 2-1 in conference play and 4-5-2 overall.