Men's Soccer Downed by Generals

9/10/2017 1:37:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Todd Ryals

Box Score

Following a tough first game the LC Men's soccer team faced in city rivals, the generals of LSU Alexandria, Saturday night under the lights of Wildcat Stadium. The game started strong for the Wildcats as they maintained possession and were the first to create a chance and attack the goal.

A corner kick from freshman Alvaro Riera gave fellow freshman Leo Osawa a decent opportunity at taking the lead but his shot was high above the LSUA woodwork. LC were not the clear aggressors in the match as LSUA minutes later would try their hand at goal. After moving the ball into the wildcat's half Ricardo Caliman's right footed attempt was denied by Senior goalkeeper Nathan Gautreaux, stopping the grounded effort.

The Wildcats stretched the general's backline off a well worked spell of possession and traveled down the left flank of LSUA receiving a free-kick after a poor timed challenge. Sophomore Phay San stepped onto the ball and whipped it into the six-yard box and outreaching his head, freshman Kristoffer Boerjesson, has able to steer it toward the goal but was feet wide of his first goal.

Minutes later the generals mounted a response, striking the frame of goal Luiz Petribu's right footed effort from distance showed that they were here to play. Next possession, the generals worked the ball down the left touchline of the wildcats and after a well placed cross by Lance Crabtree, Petribu got his goal.

A shot over the goal by freshman Wildcat Ian Carter would represent the first half for the Wildcats as they would get into dangerous positions but would leave empty handed.

The second half would be all in LSUA's favor as the Generals would work themselves into shooting positions and assault Gautreaux's net. The Wildcats would be resilient preventing those chances from materializing, keeping them in the game.

Out of the 17 shots in the second half only four would cause Gautreaux to react, LC on the other hand only had one shot and it was on frame but no issue for General keeper Joe Bowles. LC was mainly on the back foot during the final 45 minutes but they didn't quit and they still pushed numbers forward with aspirations of shooting one in.

Many subs were used for both sides in the second half trying to outlast the other to pull away and secure a victory. In the end the many fresh legs made a huge difference to the outcome and to the pace of the game it did. The full 90 minutes the ball was moving and the only time it stopped was for step pieces and throw ins. In the final minutes of the game the generals were working the ball into LC's half and just after being subbed in the 90th minute, Brian Okpala was able to get one past Gautreaux. Okpala's shot took a deflection off an LC player's foot and caused the ball to change its path just enough to give no chance to be stopped.
The final whistle blew and both the wildcats and generals met together in a circle in the center of the field and prayed showing the love for soccer is more than a scoreline or jersey color.

The Wildcats are back in action Wednesday night as the Majors of Milsaps travel to Wildcat stadium for a non-conference meeting. For more Men's Wildcat soccer follow LC Men's Soccer team on Facebook and twitter, just search LC Men's Soccer.

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