Eagles Hold On For Crucial Win
WILMORE, Ky. – Trent Popp scored two early goals and the Eagles had to withstand a second half charge from Cincinnati Christian for a 2-1 lead. The win keeps Asbury’s hopes alive to host the KIAC tournament as the overall number one seed.
Popp has now scored the last four goals for the Eagles (3-7-3, 2-0-2 KIAC) over the past three games, giving him a team-high eight on the season. Wednesday’s first goal came in the 3rd minute as Jonathan Rehner played a through ball to the left side, Popp beat one defender then dribbled past the goalie and scored into the empty net. Later in the 25th minute on a nearly identical play Rehner again played Popp in on the left side and Popp again beat the keepter 1-on-1.
The Eagles took advantage of CCU early and often, getting off seven of their 13 first-half shots in the first ten minutes of the match. Asbury would take 19 shots to Cincinnati Christian’s 12 for the match. Dimitri Lenovski made six saves in goal for CCU and Dylan Fouts had to make only three saves, but the last one proved to be the biggest.
Nursing a one goal lead with two minutes the play Asbury let Jake Senger get a step 25 yards from the goal. Senger ripped a rocket off his right foot that Fouts jumped and knocked over the cross bar, saving the Eagles from blowing a two goal lead for the second time this year.
CCU scored their only goal in the 66th minute off a corner kick from Noah Cox. Cox’s ball found the head of Senger as he flew in from the back post and flicked it past Fouts. Senger took six shots in the game to lead all players.
The Eagles will now need Cincinnati Christian to win or tie with Mountain State on Saturday to be awarded the KIAC tournament as the top seed. Asbury's 2-0-2 mark in conference play amounts to a .750 winning percentage which would be the same as CCU if they win, but they would hold the tie-breaker with the head-to-head win. If CCU and MSU tie then CCU would be 2-1-1 (.625) and MSU would be 2-0-2 but would lose out to Asbury on the second tie-breaker, goal differential as Asbury is +6 and MSU would be +3. If Mountain State wins they will host for the third straight year.
Asbury will head to Lookout Mountain, Ga. on Saturday to battle Covenant College at 1:00 pm. Covenant will provide live stats for the match and the link can be found on Asbury’s schedule and results page here.
