By Josh Riccardi
Black Mountain, NC - Montreat College kicked off its first annual Fall Classic this weekend. University of St. Francis, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Truett-McConnell College all came to Black Mountain to battle it out on what turned out to be a spectacular weekend of soccer.
The Men's team, coming off a 2-1 loss to Trevecca Nazarene University, was looking to gain some traction in the early part of their season. On Friday night they played Oklahoma Baptist University, packed with 13 players from Brazil, OBU came ready to play.
Montreat possessed the game well with OBU sitting back playing a more defensive game, waiting for the Cavaliers to cough up the ball. Montreat would try to break through the touch OBU defense, but would come up short time and again. OBU had a few chances in the first half off the counter, but the Cavalier's defense would have none of it. The half would finish 0-0.
Scoring would open up in the second half when Paul Connell of the Cavaliers would earn a penalty kick when he received a long ball over top and beat the defense to get a chance at 1 vs.1 with the keeper, but the referee called a penalty kick when the goal keeper rammed into Paul as he was on his way to goal. Paul shot the penalty kick, and the goal keeper had no chance at it, placing it in the top right corner of the net.
The game took a dramatic turn when Cavaliers Senior midfielder Brandon Rodeman was called for his second yellow card, resulting in an ejection from a game, with about 15 minutes left to play. OBU would pepper the net with shots but junior goal keeper Michael Bruce would stop every challenge that came his way, putting on a clinic on how to save the impossible. What would seem to be a sure goal, Bruce would somehow manage to shield the ball away, keeping intact the shutout. The Cavaliers would hold on to win the game 1-0 in regulation. OBU would have 11 shot, 7 on goal to Montreat's 8, 6 on goal.
The Montreat Men's team would play St. Francis University on Saturday in what could have been read as the tale of 3 freshmen. Playing without starters Cesar Lopez and Brandon Rodeman, the Cavaliers needed to step up big.
Scoring would open up quick when Freshman Brandon Hageman would put a blast in from the left side, but St. Francis would quickly find an answer when they would squeak a well placed shot past goal keeping Michael Bruce. But, Montreat would soon have the lead again when freshman midfielder Maxi Viera would earn his first goal of the season. The half would end 2-1.
The second half was full of action. St. Francis came out strong, hitting 2 shots off the post and crossbar. But just like the first half, Montreat's freshmen would come up big. Cody LaBelle would get his first goal of the season when he took a quick touch off a pass on the right side, fired a shot that ended up in the net after is banged the left post. Freshman forward Brandon Hageman would later get his second goal of the game as the Cavaliers would go on to win with a final of 4-1. Montreat had assists by Leo Walker, Paul Connell, and David Friedrichs. Shots by Montreat were 14, 9 on goal and St. Francis with 14, 5 on goal.
Head coach Brenton Benware had this to say about the wins, "These were two big wins for us. Oklahoma Baptist was a very strong team that challenged our defensive unit with some excellent opportunities. Goalkeeper, Michael Bruce, showed up big for us and made some amazing saves. Our game against University of St. Francis was a tough match, but our offensive unit showed up big."
Montreat will have a week off to get ready for its next game against Calumet College of St. Joseph on September 11.
