Riding high off a huge win Friday night, the Lindenwood men’s soccer team kept it rolling with a big 5-0 against the Westminster Blue Jays.
Fresh off his penalty kick winning goal, senior Ethan Blake kept his hot play going two minutes into the the first half. Blake sent a cross into the box and found an open Matteo Boasso, who hammered the ball into the back of the net for the first goal of the game, and Boasso’s first goal of the season. Throughout the entire first half Lindenwood would have many other chances to score, Blake received a pass from John Gates but his shot sailed too high and careened off the crossbar in the 22nd minute. Blake would again miss in the 23rd minute. Anis Smajlovic would have a one-on-one opportunity against the Blue Jays goalie late in the first half but a herculean effort made by a Westminster defenseman was able to get back and knock Smajlovic’s shot out of bounds. Jens Haukeland would have a chance to double the Lions lead in the 30th minute of the first half, but his header off a pass from Harrison Heubert also found the meat of the crossbar instead of the back of the net. The Lions attempted 17 shots in the first half, but only saw 1 actually make it past Blue Jays goalie Toby Hughes, as they went into half still only holding on to a 1-0 advantage.
The second half started with a rejuvenated Lions team that came out and struck just as quickly as they did in the first half. In the fifth minute, Henrique Perestrelo sent a cross into the box and found Ethan Blake who smashed a shot into the back of the net to put the Lions up 2-0. That goal for Blake marked his second straight game with a goal, and he would finish this game with one goal and two assists. The Lions would stay with the offensive pressure all afternoon attempting another 15 shots in the second half, totaling 32 in the game. Matteo Boasso would get his second goal of the game in the 18th minute of the second half off a pass from Josh Francombe. Soon after, Anis Smajlovic would find the back of the net for his first goal of the season in the 25th minute of the second half. Lastly, Connor Lovell would cap off the scoring onslaught in the second half with his first goal of the season in the 35th minute of the second half.
Coming into this short two game homestand, the Lions sat at a record of 0-2-1, but now after back-to-back wins, they improve to 2-2-1. Multiple full line changes occurred during the s game and allowed newer players to get some action and allowed others to move up and play some different positions. Lindenwood dominated ball possession all game as Lion goalkeepers Gavin Roberts and Mason Shale saw a combined one shot attempt on goal all game. The Lions continually dominated in all phases of the game winning a majority of the 50/50 balls and had very few errant passes in the middle of the field.
The Lions will be back in action on Friday, September 13th against Utah Tech and won’t have another home game until they play host to Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois on Sunday, Oct. 6 starting at 3pm.
