KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A relentless second-half push could not produce an equalizer for the Maryville men's soccer team Saturday night, as the Saints fell 1-0 to Rockhurst despite a 23-3 advantage in shots at Bourke Field.
Maryville fired 16 shots after halftime, including seven attempts on target in the final 11 minutes, but an early Rockhurst goal held up as the difference in the Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup.
Jose Vilela led Maryville with four shots, while
Alex Smeins and
Petter Hanssen added three apiece.
Asgrimur Vidisson finished with one save.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Axton Anom supplied the Saints' first opportunity just over a minute into the contest, sending a shot wide left. Rockhurst struck on its first attempt at the 9:11 mark, converting a cross from eight yards out following a corner kick.
Maryville worked to answer through Smeins, whose attempt in the 15th minute was saved before
Lukas Molander sent a shot wide right. Vilela tested the Hawks again in the 24th minute, but his effort was turned away.
The Saints continued to generate chances, with attempts by Vilela and
Enzo Manga Mbassa blocked before Hanssen missed wide right in the 35th minute. Maryville entered halftime trailing despite holding a 7-1 edge in shots and a 4-1 advantage in corners.
Anom,
Pep Moya and Smeins each took a shot within the opening eight minutes of the second half as the Saints resumed their pursuit of the equalizer. Vidisson kept the deficit at one with a save in the 62nd minute, and Hanssen forced another stop at the other end less than two minutes later.
Maryville's pressure intensified down the stretch.
Julian Stoecker and
Yayo Mutombo put consecutive attempts on target in the 80th and 81st minutes, while
Leyson Losada and Vilela followed with chances that were also saved.
The Saints nearly broke through during a flurry in the 86th minute. Mutombo and Losada each had shots stopped before
Stan Valentine's attempt was cleared by a Rockhurst defender.
Two more Maryville corners in the closing minutes kept the Hawks under pressure, but
Jacob Lusignan's final attempt went wide left with two seconds remaining.
UP NEXT
The Saints head to Quincy for a battle with the Hawks Wednesday, Oct. 7.
