Men's Soccer News

Centre 3 - Austin 2

Austin College came into this match ranked 3 rd in the SCAC standings, needing a win against the Colonels to at least secure that spot to finish the season. Austin, who is playing their first year in the conference, has faired very well this season, and would no doubt give us a good match. Centre, on the other hand, needed a win to flip-flop and at least secure a tie for 3 rd in the final SCAC standings.

Having been held to just 3 goals in our last 5 games, we decided a bit of a change was needed, so we played a different system that had 3 strikers up top and 2 midfielders. We knew it would open things up and create a more wide open game, on both ends. Although we knew we would be more susceptible to goals, our attack would be much better as well. This would be the case as the boys would come out firing, out shooting Austin 13 – 5 in the first half. However, like we have all year, we got a little too complacent in the back and would concede the first goal 15 minutes into the game. Senior David Horne ( Louisville , KY ) would equalize just over 5 minutes later off a corner kick delivered by fellow senior Derek Roberts ( Knoxville , TN ). Centre would continue to create chance after chance, and would break through again in with just under 15 minutes to play. Junior striker Matt Hoskins ( Lexington , KY ), who was having one of his most dangerous nights of the season, would put Centre up 2-1 off a 25 yard blast. The assist would go to freshman midfielder Patrick Hall ( Indianapolis , IN ), who has played consistent minutes all year both as a midfielder and an outside back. At the break, the score would remain 2-1.

The second half would start much the same as the first, with Centre consistently creating opportunities. Austin would get their chances as well, as our back 5 would push 2 up into the attack and would leave us susceptible to counters. Having never trained this system, this was expected as there would be several breakdowns in the back. This would prove to be the case as Austin would equalize with just over 10 minutes to play in the game. Centre, however, would answer right away, 16 seconds later to be exact. Roberts would feed fellow senior Kevin Brown ( Memphis , TN ) running down the left flank and Brown would slot home the game-winner. The goal would rank 5 th all-time in NCAA Division III for fastest back-to-back goals scored by opposing teams.

Not the most settling game for in terms of our defense, but it was an exciting game to watch and I know the boys enjoyed playing the system. The win would move Centre into 3 rd place in the SCAC standings, and win on “Senior Day” on Sunday over Hendrix would secure at least a share of that spot.