Michelle St. Louis

Second Half Comeback Tops Wildcats

9/29/2017 1:26:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Todd Ryals

Box Score

Thursday night the Louisiana College men's soccer team entertained the Univ. of Mary Hardin-Baylor Cru in an American Southwestern Conference showdown. A second half resurgence by UMHB would top the Cats 3-1 after a splendid first half free kick by Alvaro Riera.

The Cru would be the dominant force to start the game but a prepared LC defense would shutout the number one conference team in the first half. Allowing for the Cru to possess the ball in their half bending but not breaking with long distant shots and crucial saves by Nathan Gautreaux.

UMHB were constantly putting the Cats on their back heel with frantic clearances and limited possession outside their half. When the Cats dispossessed the Cru, instant pressure was applied causing rushed and lose passes returning the ball back to UMHB. When the Wildcats had time, long balls where played ahead to the forwards, but waiting for them was a confident UMHB backline clearing the ball away reapplying pressure to LC.

The constant attack was not capitalized upon with eight shots in the first half only one was on frame for the Cru. On the other hand, LC did capitalize on their only shot in the first, in the 33rd minute a UMHB foul outside their 18-yard box gave Riera and LC all that was needed to take the lead.

After a conference on top of the ball to decide who would take the shot, Riera set up and went for goal. Stepping a couple feet from the ball the Spanish freshman whipped his shot near post. The curved effort was placed perfectly out of keeper Bryce Eichhorn's reach hitting the back of the net exploding the LC side. The game was then filled with shouts and cheers from the LC players and bench believing the game was won even though the game was far from over. The Cru did not have a response for the remaining minutes of the first giving the Cats the lead into the break.

Restarting the game after half, UMHB would be buzzing to level the score. Sprinting to lose balls and winning long balls, the Cru tried anything to end the LC control. Pinging passes down the right flank of LC and going into the penalty box, a joint LC tackle would give UMHB a golden chance to score. One of the two LC defenders in the challenge got the ball while the other got the man, fouling him inside the box for a penalty kick.

A minute of confusion and arguing with the referee passed before Case Carnes tried his luck. The pressure got to him sending the right-footed shot way wide keeping the Cats in the lead. Even if the shot was on frame Gautreaux dove the correct way to his right and would have easily stopped the shot. The Cats were safe for the time being but the missed chance would not deter UMHB returning back in front of Gautreaux's box minutes later.

A Daniel Santa cross in the 57th minute from LC's right side would find Carnes' head and this time he would get his goal. The header was unconventional as it went straight up into the air high above any defender and was lost in the stadium lights throwing off Gautreaux. The lost ball found the back post of the goal bouncing behind the defense and into the goal.

The goal crushed the high that LC had and would not return as minutes later the duo struck again. In the 59th minute, Carnes would return the favor and give Santa a goal for himself. A pervious foul put the ball around 40 yards away from goal and Carnes' right footed service caused trouble for LC defense; clearing the ball as far as Santa were he struck the bouncing ball yards from goal giving the Cru the lead and eventually the win.

The following 30 minutes would be a true test for LC. With confidence now on UMHB's side every possession turned into an attack. Five minutes after Santa's goal a third and final goal came in the 65th.

The time in-between the defense would be faced with four goal-ward shots, each receiving a leaping save from Gautreaux. The fourth shot would be the nail in the coffin for the Cats, a left sided Carnes shot gave the senior keeper an awkward bounce, stopping the initial shot, the ball rebounded forward just pass the six yard box where Jason Goodin tucked it in the lower right corner just past Gautreaux's dive.

The Cats would try to mount a comeback but strong hands by Cru keeper Eichhorn would deny the chance. Off of a counter attack, Francisco Silvestre was forward and after receiving a midfield pass, opened his body to goal firing a shot near post and springing to his side Eichhorn pushed the shot wide.

Minutes later, Jhesus Vargas coming up from the back had the best chance to cut the lead to one. Floating in the six yard box, a cross was whipped in, putting his right foot to it the quick reactions again by Eichhorn kept the Cats a bay and out of game.

The Cats fall to 1-6 on the season and 1-3 in conference. With a quick one-day turn around, on Saturday the Tornadoes of Concordia Univ. travel to Wildcat Stadium for another ASC match up. The game is set to kickoff at 1:30 p.m. For more on the LC Men's Soccer Team following them on Facebook under Louisiana College Men's Soccer, Instagram and twitter at LC_MSOC.

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