On Friday 9/25 the Soccer Hawks lost 2-1 to UMSL in St. Louis with the winning goal coming with just 5 minutes left in the match. Although the Hawks totally dominated the second half, on one of UMSL’s few possessions in the Hawk defensive third, their scorer found an opening about 25 yards out an hit a “pill” into the upper 90 degree angle of the post. Hawk keeper Kyle Dillman had no chance for a save on the well placed shot. The Hawks valiantly tried to equalize in the remaining 5 minutes but were unable to find the net on several shots.
The Hawks put themselves in a hole in this match by playing a very lack luster first half. During the opening stanza UMSL consistently looked to be the “hungrier” team as they hustled about causing Hawk defenders all kinds of trouble. At about the 15 minute mark the Hawks were called for their 5th PK of the young season as keeper Dillman’s dive across an UMSL attacker soloing in on goal after eluding the Hawk back line tripped up the dribbler challenging the goal. Dillman stepped up big time and stopped the ensuing PK shot keeping the score ant 0-0 at that point. However, UMSL kept on attacking at will and finally got on the scoreboard at the 30 minute mark sending the game into halftime 1-0 in their favor, and holding a 8-4 shot advantage over the Hawks..
The Hawks came out re-energized in the second half and totally changed the game around became the more dominant team by pressuring the UMSL team all over the field and winning possession of all the 50-50 balls. For the second half the Hawks out shot UMSL 12-6 and drew even with them at the 58 minute mark when freshman Zach Venvertloh (Quincy Senior HS) notched his first goal of the season by picking up a loose ball and driving into the UMSL PA going from his right to left and then sliced a ball back to his left to slip past the out reached arms of the UMSL keeper. At this point it looked like the Hawks we destined to put UMSL away but no more shots found net…until UMSL’s did totally against the second half run of play.
On Sunday9/27 the Hawks were in Evansville (IN) for a match with the University of Southern Indiana. For this match the Hawks came out flying and put constant pressure on USI from the opening kick-off. Throughout the first half the Hawks peppered the USI goal (16 shots to USI’s 7) but were unable to finish. The goals were there for the taking but the shots never found net. Actually USI almost scored first when with the Hawks having a 13-3 shot advantage USI’s 4th shot from about 30 yards out hit the inside of the round goal post and screamed across the whole goal mouth and out the other side. Throughout the whole second half the Hawks still had the better of possession and more shots but were unable to score. Regulation time ended 0-0 and the game went into overtime. Two minutes into the first OT period Jack Wedemeier flicked on a ball over the head of the two USI central defenders and Corey Eatherton slipped past them to pick up the ball, elude the keeper and slot home the game winner putting a fitting end to 92 minutes of great effort by the team to salvage a split of the weekend GLVC matches.
Currently, the Hawks are 5-4-1 overall and 4-2 in the GLVC where they are in a three way tie for third with Rockhurst (who they beat earlier 2-1) and Bellarmine (who they play in Quincy this Sunday 10/4 at 2:30 PM. Prior to the Bellarmine match the Hawks take on Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday 10/2 at 7:30 PM. The Hawks need to be sharp this weekend and notch two victories to stay in contention for a “top four” finish to the regular GLVC Conference season. Even though its only midseason the team knows that each and every match from now on has play-off implications.
If you’re in the neighborhood on QU’s North Campus Field this weekend come on out and support the Hawks. Give’em some hometown home team support to encourage their efforts.
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