CLEVELAND, Ga. (October 14, 2023) – The Truett McConnell University men's soccer team showed out on Saturday in their Appalachian Athletic Conference match-up against Columbia International University, where the Bears proved the dominate team as they secured the win with a final score of 6-2. TMU increases their overall record to 7-2-2, 5-2-2 AAC, while the Rams dropped to a record of 7-3-3, 5-3-2 AAC.
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PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Bears wasted no time as they hit the ground running from the start, recording their first goal of the game in the second minute of regulation after a picture-perfect shot from
Oscar Brennan found the back of the net (1-0).
Max Farris kept TMU on the visiting team's side of the field with a blocked shot, followed by the Bears earning a corner kick in the seventh minute. A defensive slide tackle by CIU forced the game to be unevenly matched from the 23
rd minute to the remainder of the game due to a red card, allowing TMU the prime opportunity to widen the gap and put the match out of reach. The Bears earned their second goal in the 26
th minute after a ball from
Maury Ibarra found the foot of
Jose Ventura, followed by action in the box after a ball from
Ogi Vrkic connected with
Will Fraser-Gray for goal number three (3-0).
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The second half saw even more speed from TMU with a goal by
Max Farris in the 54
th minute, a stellar header by Ventura, assisted by Farris in the 55
th minute and a second goal by Farris in the 56
th minute to make the score 6-0. The Rams were capable of retaliating in the 75
th minute and the 89
th minute, but it proved not enough as the Bears collected the conference win with a final score of 6-2.
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LEADERS
Ventura led the way for TMU with two goals, one assist and three shots on goal, followed by Farris who had two goals, one assist and three shots, two on goal. Brennan recorded a goal of his own and three shots, two on goal, while Fraser-Gray recorded one goal and two shots. Keeper
Aleksa Lukic had a sharp performance as usual in goal with seven saves on the day.
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UP NEXT
The Bears are back in action at home on Wednesday, Oct. 18, where they will face Bryan College in an AAC show down at 7:30 p.m.
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