MARIETTA, Ga. --- A flurry of shots saw by the No. 14 Life University men's soccer team saw the Running Eagles pull away for a 4-1 victory over Blue Mountain College in the Opening Round of the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday night at Lupo Famliy Field.

Life U (12-2-1) started post season play on the right foot, responding well to an early Blue Mountain College (5-10-2) goal to take complete control of the game on their way to a victory. The shot count went heavily in the favor of the Running Eagles, the team holding a massive 35-5 edge in shots taken, while having a similarly overwhelming advantage in corner kicks at 10-0. The only statistics that favord the Toppers were saves at 4-1 and fouls as the referees called on Life U more, 18-5. Cards went against Blue Mountain in their final game of the season, the team being awarded three to only one for the Running Eagles. 

Life U came out of the gates slowly Thursday night, missing on their passes before allowing the Toppers a shot on goal with no defenders back to help to see Blue Mountain take a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. The goal helped to wake up the Running Eagles, the team only allowing one more shot over the rest of the half, while also responding with a goal of their own to tie things in the 14th minute as Luciano Diaz headed in a corner kick from Matteo Olivotto. Life U continued pressing the attack over the rest of the half, a header by Thierry Jules caroming off the cross bar back to Jamie Gonzalez who netted a goal to give the Running Eagles the lead, 2-1, at 25:22. Life U continued their momentum through the rest of the half, but did not score again, taking a 2-1 lead into the break.

Coming out of the half, it did not take long for the Running Eagles to add to their lead, Danny DeLorijn scoring off a Ole Kuperus assist to push the edge to 3-1 in the 49th minute. The final score off the game came just 10 minutes into the second Lars Van Der Steen heading a cross from DeLorijn past the Topper goal keeper to push the lead to 4-1. Blue Mountain only got three more shots off over the final 35 minutes of play, the Life U defense shutting down any attempt to get back into the game, leading to a 4-1 finish.

Head coach Alex Pama commended hoow the team bounced back from a slow start. "We didn't start well and the concentration as well as the discipline was lacking a bit. We changed it with some subs in the first half and with some tactical adjustments at half time resulting in an excellent second half with many opportunities to score." Pama finished by updating the status of one of his players and looking forward to the rest of the conference tournament, saying, "The only down side of the evening was the injury of Bart, but hopefully we can patch him up in time for the semifinal game next week."

The postseason continues next week, Life U heading down the road to Montgomery, Ala. for their semifinal match against top-seeded and top-ranked Dalton State, Wednesday at 5:30 PM.