Eutectics ignite offense, Lions battle for tie

Maybe all it took was some nice weather to fuel the goal-parade for the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. After opening up their season last Saturday in the rain, the Eutectics got picture-perfect conditions at St. Louis University High to play host to Freed-Hardeman on Thursday morning. The two teams combined for eight goals in a highly entertaining affair that finished in a 4-4 draw.

The first half was a repeat for UHSP as they fell behind their opponent 2-0 at the half. Last Saturday it was a pair of goals by Evangel University in the first 45-minutes. This time, the Lions took the lead on a goal by Avery Flener just shy of 14-minutes into the game. Almost nine minutes later, FHU challenged again and was awarded a corner-kick. Thabo Mahlaha took the corner from the right of UHSP keeper Jack Wolfe. Mahlaha delivered a low-ball that deflected in off the congestion in front of the net for a 2-0 Freed-Hardeman lead that they carried all the way until intermission. The Lions outshot the Eutectics in the first half, 13-7.

The Purple and Gold come out a different team in the second half. FHU's Jau Fishpaw had a ball taken away just as he was about to enter the top of the 18-yard box. UHSP's on two passes got the ball to Alvaro Montijano in the offensive third. Montijano had to run the ball down as he was being challenged by Flener who was slightly off his right shoulder as Montijano sprinted down the left wing. Montijano volleyed the ball to himself over Flener to end up in open space and blistered a shot past the FHU keeper Orlando Whitesides to make it a 2-1 game just 7:00 into the second half. The Eutectics poured it on from there scoring three more times over the next 10:24. The game tying goal was as electric as they come in soccer and as magnificent a display of ball control. UHSP's Wolfe threw a ball 35-yards downfield to freshman Mohammed Alkenani on the left sideline. Alkenani made one move to get around Lion defender Malachi Albrecht near midfield and found himself with open space all the way near the outside left corner of the 18-yard box. Alkenani struck a left-footed cross to the opposite far-right corner of the 6-yard box when Jacob Woodard volleyed the ball out of midair and into the far left corner of the cage. It was a goal of sheer beauty with 35:#4 left that leveled the contest at 2-2 scored by the Eutectics' all-time leading goal scorer. A minute and 55 seconds later, Jacob Woodard this time on the assisting end of another tally for the home club. Woodard corralled a 50-50 ball near midfield settling one off his head to his feet. One dribble later and a through-ball to his brother Grant Woodard sprung Grant free in front of three FHU defenders. Grant would not miss on his chance and UHSP took their first lead of the season at 3-2. The goal moved Grant Woodard into a tie for second-place on the all-time scoring list with nine goals matching the marks of Naphtali Eke (2014-2017) and Adis Sahbaz (2014-2017).

The Eutectics were not done with the fireworks and this time it was Montijano that again found the net. With just under 28-minutes remaining, UHSP's Carter Walworth was awarded a free kick near midfield. Walworth delivered one down the right wing the led Grant Woodard near the right corner of the goal box. Grant ran the ball down and with a slide, was able to reach the ball first, just before the oncoming keeper Whitesides. Woodard knocked the ball across the front of the goal mouth where the Spaniard, Montijano, had an easy tap-in goal. Freed-Hardeman's defense argued that Montijano was offsides, but their plea was to no avail. That made it a 4-2 led for the Eutectics, 27:36 away from a win.

But the Lions and Flener were not done just yet. Flener took a pass from Malhala and entered the penalty box. Stepping around one defender to open up a lane, Flener scored his second of the game with 23:50 left to pull the Lions within one at 4-3. With under 14-minutes left, Freed-Hardeman went length of the field after gaining control of the ball all the way at their own end line. Ackeil Gardener lofted a ball from the midfield line downfield to Mahlaha who had just the keeper to beat. Mahlaha volleyed a ball over Wolfe that bounced and hit the underside of the crossbar, but did not go in. It ricocheted off Mahlaha again, hit the post and Flener pushed it across the line to compete his hat-trick and tie the game at 4-4. 

Each team had chances over the final 13 minutes, but neither took any drastic chances and the game finished to a 4-4 tie. Freed-Hardeman had been 3-0 all-time against the Eutectics with the all-time series now standing at 3-0-1. The four goals were tied for third most in UHSP history in a single game while the four assists are the second most in a single game in program history. As for what spurned the second half scoring onslaught by the Eutectics, UHSP Head Coach Dan Hogan was point-blank and direct on what he told his guys at halftime, saying simply, "I said some stuff".

The Eutectics are on the road for the next three contests, traveling to Illinois College and Blackburn with the road swing beginning Wednesday at Webster. UHSP's next home game is Saturday, September 16 against Kansas Christian in a game that will be played at Missouri Baptist University.