Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA (0-2-0, 0-0)

Faulkner (AL) FAULKNER (4-0-1, 0-0)

Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA

(0-2-0, 0-0)

Final

Aug. 30, 2023

Faulkner (AL) FAULKNER

(4-0-1, 0-0)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA	0	0	0
Faulkner (AL) FAULKNER	0	2	2

Summary
Box Score

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | 8/30/2023 5:58:00 PM

10-Man Cumberland Fall in Impressive Defensive Display

Lebanon, Tenn. - - The Phoenix traveled to face an opponent in Faulkner University, a team that they have squared off with just one time in school history. After a magnificent beginning to the game from both sides, Cumberland had to play a man down for close to an hour and would concede two late goals, losing 2-0.

Both teams played a similar brand of soccer to begin the game, taking their time to build play from the back and attempting to bait their opponents into a higher press. Trading shots from outside the box, neither team looked clearly ahead of the other through the first half of the period.

It took over twenty minutes for a real shot on goal from either team. The Phoenix passed the ball around the back before Jack McCarthy saw an opening and played a ball over the top of the Faulkner defense to Mark Donaldson.

Donaldson delivered a cross to Brima Kamara who attempted to drive a header into the ground and past the goalkeeper, but put too much power behind the shot. He then followed that shot later with a near miss over the crossbar.

As the game progressed though, tensions began to rise between both teams and a member of the Phoenix would be sent off as the half drew near. After making a hard challenge on the ball and being given a yellow initially, Robbie Lyons exchanged words with the official and the card was upgraded to a red.

Going a man down after that point, the Phoenix were left having to play almost exclusively in their own half. It took magnificent work in goal from Jack McCarthy to hold off the high-pressing attack that the Eagles brought at Cumberland.

McCarthy started off his account making a wonderful save in the 35th minute as the Eagles began to apply more pressure and push players higher up the pitch, but the Phoenix made it to halftime without conceding.

The second half went as most would have predicted, seeing the Eagles keeping at least nine players in Cumberland's half of the field for all but the occasional counterattack.

Cumberland's defense held strong and kept the ball out of the back of the net, however, the Eagles were due for a breakthrough, though it would take a miraculous goal for it to happen.

Shooting early, so as to try and not allow the defense to set up, Antoine Marques sent a left footed shot curling into the back post, which was simply too good to be saved.

With just fifteen minutes left to be played at that point, the Phoenix had to make more attacking substitutes in an attempt to chase a draw. With less defenders on the field for Cumberland, the Eagles sent they're set piece specialist, Caio Pereira, into the box and he capitalized on the lack of size brought by the Phoenix. His header found the back of the net and sealed the 2-0 victory for the Eagles.

The Phoenix will be on the road again this Saturday as they face off against Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

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