Eagles Close Regular Season With Shutout Win

The Emmaus men's soccer team played their final home match of the season against

the visiting Warriors of Calvary University on Saturday. The two teams had squared off in

Kansas City at midseason with the Eagles winning 4-1. Both teams had improved down the

stretch of the season as the Emmaus defense had tightened up and Calvary had managed to

keep games tight.

The match kicked off at 10:00 on an unusually warm late October morning. The

Eagles, playing in front of a crowd of over 200 for parents and alumni weekend, looked to

finish their regular season in strong form. The opening minutes of the game saw Emmaus

take control and work the ball around, creating several dangerous opportunities. Their

attacks were stymied, however, as Calvary started to settle in and created a few chances of

their own. The Eagles finally found an opening in the 42ndminute when Mason McCarl

(#17) won a ball on the end line and played a low cross to Brandon Young (#13) who

buried his shot from close range. The Eagles went in at halftime up by one goal after

outshooting Calvary 16-5.

"At the half we talked about the importance of making good switches, getting out

fullbacks involved in the attack, and getting the ball wide. We had been 'living dangerously'

all half and it was time to start to settle down and to control the match." (Coach Brown)

The second half witnessed the Eagles come out with a flurry. Just two minutes into

the half the Calvary defense managed to clear an attack, only to see the ball settled by

center defender Elijah Barsness (#1) who sent in a perfect cross to the back post. With

perfect technique, Carson McBain (#11) hit the ball out of the air just inside the far post for

the 2-0 lead.

The Eagles added to their lead in the 65th minute when Joe Olson (#3) played in a

perfect corner kick to the back post where a waiting Brandon Young headed the ball in for

his second goal of the match. For the remainder of the game the Eagles continued to press

the attack, using great combination play and sending in dangerous crosses. Their efforts

were rewarded a final time in the 88th minute when Joe Olson (#3) won the end line and

sent a low ball across the face of the goal to a waiting Eddyn Rivera (#4) who sliced the ball

into the upper 90. The score held at 4-0 as Erik Rasmussen and the defense recorded their

second shutout of the season.

"That was just a great all around team win for us. The defense did their jobs, the

offense developed some great attacks, we recorded four assists to go with our four goals,

and as always, there was a great show of sportsmanship on both sides. We have always had

a great relationship with Calvary and I look forward to Lordwilling matching up with them

many times in the years to come." (Coach Brown)

The Eagles are currently scheduled to finish their season at the ACCA tournament in

Joplin, MO November 10-12. Their seed and schedule will await the results of the NCCAA II

Midwest regional tournament.