Phil Brahm | Staff Reporter
September 30, 2014; 10:30 p.m.
In a thrilling 3-2 victory, the men’s soccer team defeated Truman State Tuesday night, remaining undefeated at home this season.
Coming off an overtime win Sunday, the Lions looked to continue the success as they took the field against a physical Bulldog team.
19 minutes in to the first half, the Lions would be the first to reach the scoreboard. On a give-and-go pass, right in front of the net from freshman midfielder Ethan Baer, senior Nabil El Machit found the back of the net putting his team ahead 1-0.
Soon after, Mitchell Hunt who scored the overtime winner on Saturday struck again. Tallying his second assist of the night, Baer would connect with Hunt creating a breakaway for the senior. With his third goal of the season, the score was 2-0.
At the half, the Lions held a 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs put themselves back in the game as senior Nick Franta scored his first goal of the season. His shot, which came off a blocked clearing attempt by LU, set the score at 2-1 just 13 minutes into the second half.
LU’s offense would continue to attack, attempting to add on to the lead heading in to the final minutes of the game. Helping his teammate Jose Del Val land on the list of goal scorers for the Lions, Machit sent a perfect cross through the box, which was headed in to make the score 3-1.
With time quickly expiring the Bulldogs were able to score once more off a penalty kick to set the final score of the game at 3-2.
Freshman Andrew Hamerlinck in his seventh start for the Lions, made three saves to keep the lead from the Bulldogs. With just over 13 minutes remaining in the game, he stepped up and made a crucial save on an uncontested shot preventing the score to be tied. Hamerlinck is now 4-3-2 in games he has played.
The Lions will play the next two games of the four-game home stand on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. Facing Southern Nazarene and Northeastern State they look to improve their overall record of 4-3-2.