Pioneers Spoil KIAC Opener for Eagles
WILMORE, Ky. – For the third time in four games Asbury men’s soccer has lost, and the second time in overtime after a 2-1 loss to Point Park in double overtime in the KIAC opener for the Eagles. Asbury dropped their conference opener for the first time since 2009.
The Eagles (3-3, 0-1 KIAC) trailed early, giving up a goal to Alex Sala in the 9th minute. The Eagles were on the ropes in the second half but rebounded in the second, dictating the attack from the start of the second 45 minutes. Asbury took 14 shots in the second half to only five for Point Park.
Trent Popp finally broke through for the Eagles in the second half with just under five minutes left in the match. The redshirt-senior got by his defender on the right side and was fouled in the box, giving Asbury a penalty kick. Popp tied that game with his sixth goal of the season.
Just seconds later Point Park (2-3, 2-0 KIAC) had a chance to re-take the lead by Dylan Fouts made a terrific save as Matt Annecchiarico had gotten behind the back line. Popp would just miss on his second goal of the game just a minute later, capping off a flurry of activity inside the final few minutes of regulation.
In the second overtime session Sala had looked to score the game-winner on a free kick from the left side, bending the ball inside the far post but the preceding foul resulted in an indirect kick which wiped away the goal. Moments later Frazer McKinaly scored in almost the same spot with just over a minute left.
Asbury took 24 shots to Point Park’s 18. Dylan Fouts made six stops in goal for Asbury while his counterpart Mitchell Kelman made four for Point Park. There were 31 fouls called in the match and six yellow cards issued.
Asbury will host Transylvania University on Wednesday at 7 pm. The Eagles return to KIAC action on September 25 at Berea.
