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Cumberland University

MSOC vs BU
3
Winner Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA (9-4-3, 3-1-2)
1
Bethel (TN) BETHEL ( (12-3-1, 3-2-1)
Winner
Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA
(9-4-3, 3-1-2)
3
Final
1
Bethel (TN) BETHEL (
(12-3-1, 3-2-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA 2 1 3
Bethel (TN) BETHEL ( 0 1 1

Next Game:

Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.)

11/3/2023 | 2:30 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Nov. 03 (Fri) / 2:30 PM
 Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.)
History

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Robbie Lyons tames the Wildcats with three goals in McKenzie

McKenzie, Tenn. - - Hitting the road for their final game of the season, the Phoenix were playing for a chance to host in the quarterfinals of the MSC tournament. Putting his best foot forward, Robbie Lyons took charge and delivered a hat trick en route to a 3-1 win over the No. 13 ranked Wildcats of Bethel University.

Both Bethel and Cumberland have been fortresses in the back, maintaining two of the nations top defenses over the length of the season. In between the sticks, the Phoenix's Jack McCarthy and the Wildcat's Norberto Lima Vieira both have multiple MSC Defensive Player of the Week honors to their name.

In his first game back from suspension, Marcos Perez made his presence well-known, ensuring there would be no goalless draw like there was in his previous appearance against Lindsey Wilson. Dancing down the right wing, he drew in an extra defender and that left Robbie Lyons with only a single defender on his back.

Receiving the ball on his preferred left-foot, he calmly slotted the ball in the back of the net with a single touch. If you took your eyes away from action for five minutes and came back, you might've got a sense of deja vu as the two linked up yet again to double the Phoenix lead.

Driving down the right wing yet again, Perez found a nearly identical pass to his first, meeting a wide open Lyons. Completing the assist, Lyons doubled his goal tally for the year in just 27 minutes of action.

Second half action began, while Lyons had never stopped. Thomas Groenhilder delivered a free kick from just inside the corner flag, which Lyons climbed the ladder and headed the ball past the whole Bethel defense, completing his first hat trick as a Phoenix.

It would not have been Halloween night without some scare though, as the Wildcats clawed their way back. Just three minutes after Lyons scored his third, Bethel answered with a goal of their own to cut the lead down to two.

Jack McCarthy had to stay busy in goal, making all three of his saves in the second half. Bethel continued to surge, though their efforts would be in vain as the Phoenix held strong and only allowed one more shot on goal after losing their shutout.

Through regulation Cumberland was outshot and faced more corners, but Robbie Lyons was a clinician in front of goal and allowed no room for error from the home side. The game also featured nine yellow cards, with the Wildcats being charged with the lion's share of them, sitting at seven cautions compared to the Phoenix's two.

With the victory, Cumberland finishes their regular season as the number three seed in the Mid-South Conference tournament, meaning they will host their opponents in the quarter finals. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 PM on Friday against Freed-Hardeman.
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Players Mentioned

Thomas Groenhilder

#14 Thomas Groenhilder

MF
6' 3"
Junior
Robbie Lyons

#10 Robbie Lyons

MF
6' 1"
Junior
Jack McCarthy

#1 Jack McCarthy

GK
6' 3"
Sophomore
Marcos Perez

#25 Marcos Perez

MF
5' 10"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Thomas Groenhilder

#14 Thomas Groenhilder

6' 3"
Junior
MF
Robbie Lyons

#10 Robbie Lyons

6' 1"
Junior
MF
Jack McCarthy

#1 Jack McCarthy

6' 3"
Sophomore
GK
Marcos Perez

#25 Marcos Perez

5' 10"
Junior
MF