CLEVELAND, GA (TMSports) -This past Tuesday, the Truett-McConnell Men's Soccer team faced the Bruins from Bob Jones University in a mid-week match. On their home field, the Bears started the game off fast-paced as they looked to score a goal early. Within the first minute, the chance fell in favor of the Bears winger, Andre Williams, but he was unable to trouble the Bruins keeper.

Three minutes into the game, Williams again took another shot that went wide of the mark. The Bruins were struggling to find a rhythm in their play as the Bears pressed them for the whole of the first half, limiting the Bruins to any real chances and forcing the visiting side to shoot from distance.

Michael Antoniewicz's introduction to the game proved the turning point of the half. As defender Simon Guzman broke up a Bruins attack, Antoniewicz was able to find himself in some space on the right side of the field. Antoniewicz received the crossed ball from Guzman before taking on the Bruins left back defender and driving to the byline. This gave Antoniewicz the time to play an inch-perfect ball across the Bruins box into the stride of Josiah Saydee, who scored the opening goal on the stroke of half time. 

In the second half, the Bears adjusted their style of play to a more direct approach, confident that the pace they had up front would cause the Bruins problems. Immediately after kick-off, Jonathan Salgado played a perfectly weighted ball over the Bruins defense for the Bears target man, Saydee. Saydee took a shot that nearly doubled the lead and his goals, but the Bruins keeper kept the Bears from hitting the back of the net. 

Christian Escalera had an effort on goal two minutes later, showing good footwork down the Bears left before cutting in on his right and unleashing a shot on goal. Again, the ball was saved by the Bruins keeper. As the momentum shifted, the Bruins had a chance to draw level on the hour mark. The Bruins midfield found a gap and played the ball between the Bears back line to allow the Bruins striker a one-on-one opportunity with the Bears goalie and captain, Craig Stephenson. The shot looked to hit the corner of the net, but Stephenson stood tall before diving to his right to deflect the ball wide.

Halfway through the second half, the Bears gained control of the ball once again. Central defender Stephon Williams played a lofted diagonal pass over the Bruins defense to Saydee. Saydee used his blistering pace to cut inside the tracking defender and drive towards the goal, seizing the opportunity to shoot the ball in the back of the net. For the final ten minutes, the Bears continued to defend against the Bruins attack, finishing the match with a 2-0 shutout. 

The men's soccer team is now 5-5 on the season and 1-2 in conference play for the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). The Bears face their next conference opponent, Union College, at home on Saturday, October 4th at 4:00 PM.