THE RUNDOWN
The DBU Men's soccer team lost 4-3 in a close match against Southern Nazarene at the Wes Harmon Field on Saturday night. The intense match saw six goals in the second half as the equalizer from Stalzer proved to be the difference as the Patriots were unable to answer.
The Patriots endured a heavy defensive battle from the Crimson Storm throughout the first half as SNU mainly held possession. Peyton Voelker committed DBU's first shot of the game after a driving run through the middle of the field but it was saved by SNU's keeper Andrej Krivokapi. Not too long later SNU would attempt to open scoring with a corner kick in the 12th minute of the half but a low header from Bruno Correra cleared it away. The pitch would see back-to-back shot attempts from Voelker as he desperately tried to get the Patriots on the board but the Crimson Storm defense denied his shot both times. Gavyn Rosales saw the match's first yellow card in the 23rd minute after an ill-advised challenge on an SNU forward. The Crimson Storm were awarded a free kick right outside the box in hopes of putting up their first goal of the evening but were denied by Patrick Banich.
SNU would once again attempt to get their first goal of the evening and were successful as Banich tried to pass up the field but heavy defensive pressure from SNU forced him out of the box leaving an empty goal. Lucas Beja saw the open opportunity and was able to drive the ball to the low right corner and score the first goal of the night. Voelker would attempt to get the Patriots on the board with a breakaway run up the field but the shot was thwarted and cleared back down the pitch. Not too long after Avery Brazell received the second yellow card of the match after a full body check. The Crimson Storm's free kick didn't get far as Banich came through with another clearance thwarting the driving attempt from SNU. In the final minute of the half, Evan Pustejovsky attempted to get in a last-minute goal off a DBU corner but the shot was too wide ending the half with SNU up 1-0.
DBU entered the second half aggressively forcing multiple clearances from the SNU defense. Gavyn Rosales would score in the 55th minute awarding the Patriots their first goal of the match. Rosales was assisted by a Leo Larson header from a Voelker corner kick, allowing Rosales to get a low shot past the SNU goalie. A SNU yellow card in the 62nd minute awarded a DBU free kick right outside the box but Rosales wasn't able to get the shot on target. Four minutes later the Patriots would attempt a second goal as Pustejovsky completed a breakaway run up the field to get a shot through but it was off the crossbar and rolled straight to Larson. Larson tried to add to the attempt but it was a high miss. A touch from Mason Monroe assisted Voelker in getting a shot past the goalie putting the Patriots up 2-1 but not 30 seconds later Crimson Storm' Niklas Stazler was able to equalize as he got past Banich in the 70th minute.
Carlos Hernandez attempted to add to the Patriots' score but was blocked leading to an SNU goal kick and not two minutes later DBU would concede with an own goal as Evan Lupo tried to block a Unaiz Shajani cross but pushed it into our goal. The Patriots were able to recover after a Hunter Dierlam equalizer from Putsejovsky making the score 3-3. However, DBU wasn't able to celebrate too long as Aidan McGeown was sent off the pitch from a slide tackle that gave him a red card and awarded SNU a free kick right outside the box in the 84th minute. The Crimson Storm would eventually use that free kick to get a shot from Axel Agurcia past Banich and put SNU up 4-3. Despite DBU's efforts, they were unable to make the equalizing goal before the clock ran out, resulting in a 4-3 loss.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriots outshot the Crimson Storm, 15-12 with seven being on goal.
- Patrick Banich and Evan Lupo played the entire 90 minutes for the second time this season.
- Peyton Voelker made his second goal of the season and 27th career goal.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1 - Hunter Dierlam and
Gavyn Rosales scored their first goal of the season against SNU.
5 - Peyton Voelker led DBU with five shots, two being on goal.
10 - DBU took 10 corner kicks compared to SNU's 3.
UP NEXT
The Patriots travel to Pueblo, Colorado, to face CSU Pueblo. Game time is scheduled for 8 pm on Thursday, September 12th.
