Popp's Goals Lead Eagles Past Trailblazers

WILMORE, Ky. – Two quick goals were enough to hold off a fierce Ohio Christian squad as Asbury’s men opened up a 2-1 winner over the Trailblazers before a huge crowd at the Asbury Soccer Complex on Friday night. 

Red-shirt junior Trent Popp (Danville, Ind.) scored both goals in the first eight minutes to give the Eagles an early 2-0 lead.  Popp got his first one in the fifth minute after Ryan Moberley’s shot was deflected by an OCU handball in the box.  Popp stepped up and buried the ball low inside the right post for the first goal of the game.

Just minutes later Popp had another opportunity one-on-one with the keeper, this time off a perfect set-up by Jonathan Rehner (Wilmore, Ky.) and Adam Hicks (Winchester, Ky.).  Rehner used his head to flick the ball on the Hicks just past mid-field, where Hicks laid it perfectly to Popp streaking down the left side.  Once Popp had it he beat the drawn out keeper high inside the right post.

“There are a lot of things to build off of tonight’s match but it was important for us to come out early and take the lead,” head coach Ben Andrews said.  “Ohio Christian is a very solid opponent and they showed that especially in the second half with the effort they gave.  It was a good win for us.”

Ohio Christian answered with their lone goal in the 28th minute as Jimmy Galvan ripped a shot outside the 18 past a diving Dylan Fouts into the top right corner.  OCU had their best chance to tie the game in the final minutes as Emmanuel Harris’ shot crawled just in front of the goal line and out of bounds. 

Asbury took 23 total shots to OCU’s 13, but the Trailblazers out-shot the Eagles 9-8 in the second half.  Fouts made six saves on the night for the Eagles including several acrobatic ones knocking the ball over the crossbar.  Steven Fabian made five saves for OCU. 

The Eagles continue their five-game homestand on Wednesday August 31 at 7 p.m. as they host St. Catharine College.