MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The Life University men's soccer team earned its first Mid-South Conference Victory at home tonight, defeating (RV) Martin Methodist, 3-1, via three second half goals off the foot of freshman Bart Kooistra.
 
NOTES
• The second half fireworks sees Life U improve to 2-4 (1-3), while the Redhawks still search for their first win at 0-3 (0-2).
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS 
• Freshman forward Kooistra came off the bench for the Running Eagles and seemed unstoppable in the second half, collecting a hat trick on six total goals with four on goal.
• Fabian Pekruhl picked up his second win of the season, allowing only one goal to Martin Methodist, while coming up with five saves.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Through the first half, the Life U attack kept coming close to breaking through, keeping pressure on the Redhawk's defense but were unable to find a goal. The experienced a solid advantage in shots attempted, but at the 26:05 mark, Martin Methodist broke though for a goal to take a 1-0 lead. Jelle De Graaf kicked two balls on goal in the final 10 minutes of the half, but Redhawk saves saw the team's go to the locker room with Martin Methodist leading 1-0.
• The second period seemed to be on the same track as the first through the opening 27 minutes, with Life U again maintaining a strong advantage on the attack, just unable to find the back of the net. That changed in the 71st minute, Kooistra getting in his first goal up close off a Stan Vandierendonck kick to tie the game at 1-1. Just three minutes later Kooistra scored what would be the winning goal off an assist by fellow freshman Callum Jenkins. Keeping up the momentum, Kooistra finished off his hat trick and put the game away in the final five minutes, giving the final score of 3-1 off a nice pass from Wilfried Tchoupa Kamden.
  
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Life U possessed a strong advantage in shooting, taking 27 shots with 11 on goal to Martin Methodist's nine shots (six on goal).
• The Running Eagles also earned a sizable edge on corner kicks attempted at 12-3.
• Life U recorded five saves, while Martin Methodist racked up eight.
• The Running Eagles found themselves on the wrong side of the ref's whistler more often than Martin Methodist, leading fouls 17-12, while also picking up the game's only two yellow cards.
 
UP NEXT 
• The men's soccer team stays home for the next couple games, starting with a contest against Cumberland (Tenn.) Tuesday, March 2 at 8 PM.