CINCINNATI, Ohio - On Wednesday, October 4th your Mount St. Joseph University Lions welcomed the Beavers of Bluffton University to Schueler Field for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup. The Lions got on the board 1st in the 24th minute but Bluffton answered just 8 minutes later, entering halftime tied at 1. But, the 2nd half was all Lions as they piled on 3 consecutive goals before Bluffton would score in the final minute to give the Lions their 1st HCAC victory of the season by a score of 4-2.
In the 1st half, the Lions initially put pressure on the Bluffton defense firing a pair of shots in the first 7 minutes but couldn't find the net. Bluffton would answer with shots of their own but Sophomore goalkeeper
Aaron Smith held strong making 5 saves before the Lions would strike.
Andres Salinas-Barrera would gain possession at the midfield mark setting up a give and go with
Michael Abel. Abel would send a ball down the left sideline before Salinas-Barrera would dump a through ball to
Killian Riley. Riley would gain possession along the sideline before being fouled from roughly 15 yards out setting up a free kick for the Lions.
Luis Martinez Velez would step to take the kick whipping the ball into the box. Rushing from 10 yards out was
Michael Abel along the back post who powered a header off the top crossbar and into the net giving the Lions a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.
But, the Beavers answered quickly. After receiving a corner kick Bluffton would score on a header of their own to tie the game at 1 a piece. Both squads fell quiet after the Beavers goal heading into halftime tied at 1.
After the break, the Lions looked sharp. After just 5 minutes of play the Lions received a corner kick which was taken by
Jacob Trusty. Trusty would fire a ball into the box but was knocked away by a Bluffton defender. But, the Lions still gained possession as
Luis Martinez Velez chipped a ball to the top of the box. Off the chip Freshman
Brennin Sanders would head the ball into the box to the foot of
Michael Abel who raced a pair of Bluffton defenders to the ball before tapping the ball past the keeper and into the net for his 2nd goal of the night. In the 52nd minute of play, the Lions took a 2-1 advantage.
But, in the 2nd half of play, the Lions scored in bunches. Just 5 minutes later the Lions found themselves in another attacking position. After a foul at the far side 40 yard line the Lions would get a free kick.
Luis Martinez Velez would step to take the kick and loft a ball 40 yards in the air flying past a leaping
Michael Abel and Bluffton goalkeeper to
Jacob Trusty all alone on the far post. Trusty would simply tap the ball in the empty net giving the Lions a 3-1 lead.
Again, the Lions weren't done yet scoring their 4th goal just 6 minutes later.
Luis Martinez Velez again found himself in an attacking position as he gained control along the sideline from roughly 40 yards out. He would then send a beautiful through ball past the leaping head of a Bluffton defender as Freshman
Omar Niang raced another Bluffton defender to the ball. Niang beat the defender to the spot poking the ball past the rushing goalkeeper and into the bottom right hand corner of the net giving the Lions a comfortable 4-1 advantage.
The Lions offense would then slow following their 4th goal of the night. But, the Beavers would get one back in the final seconds of the game making the final score 4-2 in favor of the Lions. Senior
Michael Abel had an impressive night tallying a pair of goals for the Lions. Fellow Senior
Luis Martinez Velez also shined in the victory assisting 3 of the Lions 4 goals in the contest. Goalkeeper
Aaron Smith was lockdown in the net allowing just the 1st Bluffton goal while making 7 saves, 5 in the 1st half of play.
UP NEXT: Your Mount St. Joseph Lions are back in action on Saturday, October 7th when the Lions play host to the Quakers of Earlham College. Kickoff is scheduled to begin at 8:30pm.
