NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Life U 3, Ave Maria 0
Records: Life U, 3-0-1; GGC, 1-2-1
AVE MARIA, Fla. - The Life U men's soccer team picked up an impressive 3-0 win over a tenacious Ave Maria side Tuesday evening as three different Running Eagles scored in the contest.
After a toughly contested first half where Life U outshot Ave Maria 9-4, neither team found the back of the net in the opening 45. The Running Eagles put five shots on goal, but they were all turned away by the Gyrenes. Life U forced four saves in the first half. The best chance of the opening half was off a corner when the Ave Maria backline turned aside a header to keep the teams level.
The Running Eagles controlled much of the contest, easily turning away Ave Maria's only first half chance with a save.
In the second half, Wilfred Tchoupa Kamden finally broke the scoreless tie in the 52nd minute after back-to-back corner kicks ended with the 5th year's fifth goal of the season.
The Life U defense remained steadfast in the second half, again only allowing one shot on frame. The Running Eagles went on to add cushion in the final ten minutes of play, scoring their second and third goals in quick succession. Thomas Rodella's unassisted goal added insurance in the 84th minute while Ervin Sula's wonder-strike from the top of the penalty box drilled the top corner, confirming Life's 3-0 victory in the 85th minute.
The shutout moves the Running Eagles to 3-0-1 on the season. Impressively, the back line has conceded just two goals in the four games.
"Another win and this time on the road against a fanatic and energetic team. We struggled in the first half despite creating some good chances, to adjust our typical play vs an opponent that pushed us all over." Coach Alex Pama said. "In the second half we adjusted the system and picked up our pace a bit matching our opponent and that was the decider. Three great goals and we could have had 3-4 more. Our defense proved solid once again and another shutout for them as well."
Up next, Life U will travel to the University of the Cumberlands this upcoming weekend.
TURNING POINT:
- Kamden's conversion from a Manuel Carrillo corner opened the scoring for the Running Eagles in the 52nd minute.
