FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Drake 1,
HCU 0
Liberty 5, @USC Upstate 2
Lindenwood 3, @Evansville 2
DRAKE 1, HCU 0
DES MOINES, Iowa - Houston Christian University found themselves on the short end of a 1-0 score, falling to Drake University in a defense-heavy Friday matinee at Mediacom Stadium.
HCU put together several solid runs at the goal in the first half, but to no avail. The Huskies got what would turn out to be their best opportunity of the afternoon in the 10th minute off the foot of Ryan Okerayi. A long ball hit the sophomore on the run down the right channel, but a smash off his right foot from just outside the 10-yard box was saved by Drake keeper Tomas Butkovic.
Four minutes later, Ethan Giwa-McNeil put one on target straight on but it was blocked out of harm's way.
The hosts would crack the ice in the 35th minute, as Cole Schrage lofted a pass to Preston Kipnusu just in front of the 10-yard box. Kipnusu's header from the left side went to the backside right post just past a diving Alex Aitken, giving Drake the one-nil lead.
In the second frame, the Huskies would keep up the pressure but never really got a clean look on target as the Drake defense withstood several challenges to preserve the clean sheet.
It was a day where defense reigned with just nine total shots in the game and three shots on goal, two coming by the Bulldogs. HCU won five corners to four for the hosts, who improve to 3-2 on the season.
Ryan Okerayi had three shots for the Huskies, one on goal. Alex Aitken gave up the one score and had one save. Preston Kipnusu scored the game-winner for Drake with his one shot on the afternoon.
LIBERTY 5, USC UPSTATE 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Flames Aidan Morrison, Tyee Allen and Skyler Stricker each scored their first collegiate goal in a 5-2 Liberty victory over the USC Upstate Spartans Friday evening at County University Soccer Stadium.
After the host Spartans took a 1-0 advantage, Morrison, a freshman tied the contest in the 32nd minute. Stricker, a senior defender, scored off a corner kick during the 39th minute as the Flames took a 2-1 advantage into halftime.
In the second half, Liberty received goals from Allen, defender Carlos Trott and scoring leader Michael Huss to pull away from USC Upstate for the victory. Trott scored off a corner kick, Liberty’s second goal off a set piece in the contest.
The Flames notch their first road win of the season and move to 2-1-1. The Spartans drop to 1-4.
Liberty outshot USC Upstate, 16-11. The Flames put seven shots on goal, while the Spartans had three. Liberty scores five goals in a game for the second time this season. The Flames shutout Mount Olive 5-0 in their season-opener on Aug. 26. Liberty has outscored its opponents, 13-6, on the season.
Huss scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season. He needs one more goal to tie his career high for goals in a season. The senior netted five goals last season.
LINDENWOOD 3, EVANSVILLE 2
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - It was a tale of two halves for Lindenwood men's soccer (1-2-1, 0-0-0 OVC) on Friday evening at Hunter Stadium as the Lions picked up their first win of the season against the Purple Aces of Evansville (4-1-0, 0-0-0 MVC). The Lions scored two of their three goals in the final eight minutes of the match.
Lindenwood's offense posted 13 shots including seven on goal while the Purple Aces had nine total shots with five on net. The Lions' defense held Evansville to just two shots in the second half helping the Lions to a comeback victory.
Evansville struck first during the ninth minute of action with an unassisted goal by Jose Vivas in the bottom left of the net. The Purple Aces again scored in the 21st minute with an upper left goal by Nacho Diaz-Caneja from 20-yards out.
The Lions' offense had multiple chances in the first half to score and were fortunate with the first of two own goals by Evansville. After a shot by John Gates on the right side of the box, the ball deflected off a Evansville defender and went past goalkeeper Michal Mroz for LU's first of three unanswered goals.
Lindenwood's offense came out more aggressive during the second half resulting in five of Mroz's saves for Evansville. He ended the night with six saves and three goals allowed while Lindenwood's Enzo Gil posted three saves and allowed two first half goals.
Heading into the 83rd minute of play, Lindenwood received a corner kicker after a deflection out of bounds. Ethan Blake lined up the corner kick and missed it wide right, but hit the arm of an Evansville defender helping the Lions tie the match at 2-2.
With just under two minutes left to play, Blake was fouled in Evansville's box resulting in a penalty kick. Blake was close to scoring all-night for the Lions, and finally reached the back of the net with his first goal of the season to give Lindenwood a 3-2 victory.