MSC Championship | Photos
COLUMBIA, Ky. – Lindsey Wilson College, winner of 10 of the last 11 Mid-South Conference Tournaments, is one step closer to another championship after beating St. Catharine (Ky.) 7-2 in opening-round play on Saturday night at Walter S. Reuling Stadium.
It took just five minutes for the Blue Raiders to score their first goal as Eddy Campbell finished from close range off a pass from Yazeed Davids. But six minutes later the Patriots answered with a goal of their own by Isaac Blanford unassisted.
The tie lasted 24 minutes until Lindsey Wilson (17-1) decided to add a pair of goals in the final minutes of the first half.
Yazeed Davids dished the ball to the left side of the box to Lebogang Moloto for the next goal on a high floater out of the keeper's reach. The final goal of the half was booted in by Albert Edwards on a run by himself from six yards out.
It took over 25 minutes for the next goals in the second half.
The first came off a free kick from Keletso Mosime in the 71st minute. Mosime made the kick from about 30 yards out and perfectly bent it over Patriot keeper C.J. Powell into the back of the net. Lwandiso Gonya followed five minutes later, finding the left side of the goal from the middle of the box off an assists from Campbell.
St. Catharine (7-11) managed one more goal in the second half as Sawyer Abshire won the ball out of the backfield and drove for a one-on-one with keeper Jesper Malmstrom where he faked left before finishing the goal on the right side.
Davids quickly answered for Lindsey Wilson, scoring on the next Blue Raider possession off an assist from Mosime into the box just eight yards out. The final goal of the game came in exciting fashion, as Renan Serafim booted a cross from Anyelo Avila in at the buzzer.
The Blue Raiders attacked the goal all game long, finishing with a 28-5 shot advantage, including a 16-4 lead in shots on goal. Yazeed Davids fired a game-high six shots with four on frame, while St. Catharine was led by Isaac Blanford with two shots.
Powell spent all 90 minutes in goal for the Patriots, making nine saves alongside the seven goals allowed. Yuta Nomura and Jesper Malmstrom played an equal 45 minutes each in goal with Malmstrom collecting both saves for Lindsey Wilson.
Lindsey Wilson advances to the semifinals of the MSC Championship where it faces Cumberland (Tenn.) at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday. The Blue Raiders are hosting the final two rounds of the championship this year in Columbia.
