Men's Soccer Falls To UIndy In Season Opener
Indianapolis, IN – The Lincoln Memorial men's soccer team falls to the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds Thursday evening 2-1.
Lincoln Memorial had some early opportunities, including a corner kick 34 seconds into the match and a shot by Enrique Martin, but the Greyhounds' Colin Elder netted the first goal nearly 12 minutes into the match. Possession juggled, as both teams were able to force corner kicks for their teams and create some scoring opportunities, including a Martin shot in the 18th minute, a Gian-Carlo Kama shot in the 26th minute, and a shot on goal by Botond Skulka in the 30th minute, saved by the UIndy goalkeeper. Minutes later in the 31st minute, Kei Ishikawa tied up the match with the assist coming from David McDougall. After the goal, the Railsplitters were able to pick up the momentum offensively as more corner kicks were attempted and Ronan O'Mahony Blondel shot high in the 37th minute. That was the last action seen for the remainder of the half as the teams went into halftime tied up 1-1.
In the first half, statistics were evenly balanced, as the Greyhounds led in shots 7–6, but the Railsplitters earned more corner kicks 5-2 and recorded the lone assist of the half. The teams remained even on the scoreboard with one goal each.
UIndy started the second half with force as they created a shot three minutes into the half, but the Railsplitters responded right back as Martin recorded his third shot of the night in the 48th minute. Possession juggled for the next seven minutes until the Greyhounds recorded a shot in the 56th minute, blocked, and the 59th minute, which accounts for Daniel Benedek Miklosi's second save of the night. No offensive strides were made for the next eight minutes, until Skulka records a low center shot on goal in the 64th minute, saved. A minute later, UIndy was able to get the ball to their attacking third as Sanchez netted their second goal of the match to give them the lead 2-1. The next scoring opportunities for the Railsplitters came in the 70th minute with two shots: one by Skulka, blocked, and one by Ishikawa, high. Lincoln Memorial continued the attacking pressure as two more shots came from LMU with shots by O'Mahony Blondel and Thomas Sloerdal in the 73rd minute, both high. The next 14 minutes neither team was able to produce a shot, as the next shot came from UIndy in the 87th minute, wide. With that being the last chance of the match, the Railsplitters fell to the UIndy Greyhounds 2-1.
Ishikawa had the lone goal of the night for the Railsplitters, and he also recorded two shots with one on goal. Skulka and Martin led with three shots, as Skulka also led in shots on goal with 2. O'Mahony Blondel recorded 2 shots, while Kama and Sloerdal posted one. Miklosi played all 90 minutes in goal and registered 3 saves.
As a team, the Railsplitters were outshot by UIndy 12-14, earned more corners (6-5), but tied in saves as each team had 3.
With the loss, LMU falls to 0-1 on the season.
Lincoln Memorial hopes to bounce back on Sunday, September 7th as they have their home opener against the University of North Georgia at 3 pm.