LEBANON, Tenn. – Abdulkhalik Abdi drew a foul in the box and Sondre Risa converted the penalty kick with 6:10 remaining for Cumberland in a 1-0 victory over sixth-ranked Lindsey Wilson here Sunday on a soggy and wet afternoon in men’s soccer action at Lindsey Donnell Stadium-Kirk Field.
The Phoenix (5-4-2, 4-0-0 Mid-South) won their fourth straight match overall and moved into the lead in the conference with three outings remaining over the next 10 days.
The teams looked headed for extra time despite 25 minutes of pressing by the Blue Raiders (10-2-1, 4-1-0), though they never challenged CU goalkeeper Bennet Strutz with shots on frame. Cumberland was the aggressor for the final 20 minutes, with Bakary Bagayoko and Daniel Williams making runs down the middle and the left at LWC keeper William Diaz, though many of Cumberland’s shots were blocked by Lindsey Wilson defenders.
The Phoenix had a series of throw-ins deep down the right side on the offensive end in the final 10 minutes. Tyler Watson, in his most extensive action since a nasty injury to his lip at Georgia Gwinnett on September 29, headed an Austin Morenzoni throw-in to the far post. Abdi was there for another header and a Lindsey Wilson defender booted him in the face, giving the home team a penalty shot.
Risa buried the PK past Diaz for his second goal of the season and Cumberland played keep-away for the final six minutes. Williams and Watson nearly combined for a second CU goal in the 87th minute but Diaz, who finished with four saves, knocked the shot away.
Cumberland outshot the Blue Raiders, 14-8, though neither team was able to muster quality scoring chances. Williams’ blast from 20 yards drilled the right post near the end of the first half and Lindsey Wilson’s Andrew Revanales got a chance from about 10 yards midway through the second half after a scramble in front off a corner kick, but his shot was hit poorly in the wet field conditions and rolled left of the net.
Light rain showers fell off-and-on throughout the first half and a hard shower hit the area for 10-15 minutes of the second period, making poor field conditions even worse after the women’s match earlier in the day.
“This was a big victory for our team today,” Cumberland head coach Adam Grant said. “We really struggled early in the year and went through some injuries but the guys have played much better the last couple of weeks. I think it was a match with two excellent teams and we were able to come out on top.”
Cumberland plays at home three times in the coming week, taking on Milligan College in a non-conference match Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Phoenix also host the University of Pikeville on Friday and Shawnee State on Sunday.
