Goals, Cards and PKs
Dubuque, IA - September 9, 2023
On a beautiful, sun-filled afternoon at Fish Field, Emmaus Bible College clashed with the Crown College Polars in a game that unfolded as a rollercoaster of emotions, showcasing the unpredictable nature of college soccer.
The statistical contrast of 8 shots for Emmaus and 24 shots for Crown set the tone for a match characterized by offensive prowess. The early minutes of the game saw Crown College take the lead, with Timmy Jackson scoring in the 2nd minute, putting Emmaus on the back foot. However, John Chuyma's header off a free kick from Edwin Ventura-Magallon in the 17th minute leveled the score, showcasing Emmaus' resilience.
Cristian Anderson emerged as a key player for Emmaus, converting two penalty kicks in the 33rd and 65th minutes, displaying composure and accuracy from the spot. The game took a dramatic turn in the 33rd minute when Anderson drew a foul, resulting in a red card for the Crown goalkeeper and giving Emmaus a man advantage for the remainder of the match.
Despite the numerical advantage, Crown demonstrated their strength by leveling the score in the 37th minute and securing a goal on the last kick of the first half, leading 3-2 at the break. Anderson's second penalty kick in the 65th minute brought Emmaus back on level terms at 3-3, only for Crown to respond and reclaim the lead in the 69th minute.
Despite a valiant effort from Emmaus to mount a comeback, the final score favored Crown College Polars 4-3. The game showcased the resilience and offensive prowess of both teams, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats until the last whistle.
Emmaus' head coach, Chris McHugh, acknowledged credit to both teams, sharing, "Crown is a strong team, they played in the NCCAA National tournament last year and have a good chance to return this season, so I'm proud of how we competed today. Cristian is proving a handful for teams, and we will continue to improve and make corrections to grow from some of our mistakes today."
Next up: Emmaus at Manhattan Christian College on Friday, September 15.