In what was a very closely contested match, the Lindenwood men’s soccer team defeated Western Illinois University Sunday afternoon, by a score of 1-0.
The game was scoreless until the clock reached the closing seconds of the 80th minute. Ethan Blake was fouled in the scoring zone by an opposing Western Illinois player, which set up the senior for a penalty kick. Blake’s penalty kick attempt was successful, giving the Lions their one and only goal of the game, and ultimately winning them the match. The score was Blake’s fifth of the season, tying him for the team lead.
Much like in the first 80 minutes of play, the Lions’ defense kept the Leathernecks scoreless in the final 10 minutes to take home the win.
The entirety of the match was very clean, with only one yellow card being displayed, though it was displayed towards the Lions. Henrique Perestrelo had his card pulled in the games 68th minute, but no further issues arose.
Defensively, Lindenwood only allowed three shots on goal the entire game, each of which was saved by goalie Enzo Gil. On the other side of the ball, the Lions were able to get off five shots on goal, with just the one score reaching the back of the net. Blake led the team in that category with two, with Josh Francombe, John Gates and Isaac Johnson each recording one.
Lindenwood now moves to 7-5-1 on the season, with an interconference record of 3-2, putting them third overall in the Ohio Valley Conference. The team now heads to Texas for two games this week, first against the Houston Christian University on Thursday, Oct. 17, and then again on Sunday, Oct. 20 against the University of the Incarnate World. The team returns to Hunter Stadium on Friday, Oct. 25 to play Liberty University. That game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. that evening.
