KNOXVILLE, TENN. - CIU men's soccer hit the road for their final conference matchup against Johnson University (Tenn.) Wednesday evening. Despite an early first goal for the Royals, the Rams responded with three of their own to take home a 3-1 win. CIU wraps up Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play with a 7-4-2 record.
Match Summary: CIU forced two corner kicks less than three minutes into the game, but the Rams could not capitalize on these opportunities. Juan Ospina's first shot sailed wide, but Johnson was able to scratch first (8:55).
Zion Atkinson responded with a shot, but the Royals' keeper hauled it in. Matias Breit picked up a save before Igor Eduardo evened the score off a corner kick from Lucas Galdino (17:27).
The Rams kept the ball in Johnson's defensive end, with Atkinson and Benedict Kartheuser taking back-to-back shots on goal. The Royals came close to scoring off a corner kick, but the shot sailed wide. Mariano Calderon and Gabriel Rokov made their attempts, but both were hauled in.
Neither team could break the tie until Kartheuser found the back of the net off a penalty kick to give CIU a 2-1 lead before the half (41:42).
The Rams continued to pressure the Royals' keeper as he saved Kartheuser's shot. Marco Muhlebach took back-to-back shots the keeper blocked before saving Sohya Yamamoto's attempt. Calderon and Muhlebach continued to pressure the goalie until forcing a corner kick. Ospina took a shot off of Yamamoto's corner that was blocked.
Yamamoto came close to extending the Rams' lead with a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar. The Rams forced four more corner kicks, but a Muhlebach's shot went high, and the keeper collected a shot from Rokov'. The outcome would change on Yamamoto's next corner as Rokov added another goal to give CIU a 3-1 lead (77:49).
Breit picked up two more saves before the final buzzer to hold the score at 3-1.
Up Next: CIU heads to the Peach State on Saturday, Oct. 28, to face Middle Georgia State University at 7:00 p.m. for their final regular season contest.
