Louisville, KY. -- The Principia Men's Soccer team traveled to Louisville over the weekend to face Spalding University in their seventh conference matchup of the season. Spalding opened their new facility, Athletic Fields Complex, complete with two new turf fields. A light rain fell on and off throughout the afternoon, which made for good playing conditions.
Spalding and Principia both entered the match with only one loss in conference play, meaning that the winning team would clinch a spot in the conference playoffs.Â
The first half was fairly evenly matched with Spalding earning a slight lead statistically; 10 shots to Principia's 8. In the sixteenth minute, Alioune Cisse opened the scoring with a goal scored off of an indirect free kick in Principia's box. The remaining thirty minutes of the first half were hard fought, but both teams played strong defense and the score line at half time was 1-0 in favor of Spalding.
The Principia Men showed resolve in the second half as they created more chances and held Spalding in their own half. It took eighteen minutes to break the deadlock, but Principia found their moment on a corner kick in the 64
th minute. The ball fell to
Cameron Sellers who nodded it on to E.G. Pierce. Pierce tapped it over Spalding's keeper to level the score (Principia 1 – 1 Spalding).
Fifteen minutes later, after consistent effort, Principia earned a penalty kick in the 83
rd minute.Â
Kaden Keller stepped up confidently and placed the ball into the bottom left corner (Principia 2 – 1 Spalding).Â
Keller found the back of the net again in the 85
th minute on a beautiful strike from 30 yards out (seventh goal of the season for
Kaden Keller) (Principia 3 – 1 Spalding). That score line would remain to the final whistle, and Principia earned the important victory.
The Principia men play their penultimate regular season conference game at home on Tuesday night against Webster at 8PM.
Â
