Late PK lifts Eutectics to win

(Photo courtesy of Makenzie Ness)

MAPLEWOOD, MO - On Tuesday night, the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy were back on the soccer field playing host to Principia College. The Eutectics have been victimized by some bad fortune in their previous two games as they were coming in winless through two despite unloading 41 total shots in their first two contests. The Panthers were looking for their first win also, having scored just one goal on the year.

UHSP dominated the pace and possession in the opening half. Eutectics forwards made a number of runs deep into the Principia end, but in kind of a "bend-but-don't-break" approach, the Panthers defense was routinely able to thwart most of the Eutectics chances. The UHSP leading scorer Katlyn Akers was able to put the first goal on the board with 31:56 remaining in the half, but it was set up by a tremendous throw-in from Taliyah Parker. Parker was able to sail a ball from the sideline just inside the top of the box where it bounced over the head of a Principia defender who was trying to shield off Akers. After it bounced a second time, Akers delivered a strike that PC goaltender Christin Walls had no chance on and it was 1-0 Eutectics.

UHSP kept the pressure on for the remainder of the half, but were never able to capitalize on anything as that second goal eluded them. UHSP had a solid 3-on-3 run at one point, but a bad pass broke that apart. The Eutectics had two free kicks in their offensive half, with Emily Sitkowski sailing the first one well high of the crossbar. Some late first half substitutions seemed to give the Panthers some life. Principia was awarded a free kick with 7:40 remaining and Kannon Gill delivered a heavy ball that UHSP goaltender Zoe Dixon caught clean. Principia would get the equalizer with 4:43 left when Rachelle Williams sent a ball from the middle of the field on a good through ball to the outside right corner of the 6-yard box. Dachelle Carter ran the ball down and got a strike off just before an on-coming Zoe Dixon could get there to draw the Panthers even.

Just about 18 minutes into the second half, Principia would take their first lead. Walls took a free kick from about 35 yards out of her goal. Kaylee Kleist would play a contested header and redirect the ball farther up field to an open spot at the top of the UHSP penalty area. Rachelle Williams made a clean play on the ball and easily struck a right-footed shot past Dixon to make it 2-1. All of a sudden, the Panthers were suffocating the UHSP offense and had command of the game. Principia just missed a chance at a two-goal striking cross-bar with 21:38 left. Still struggling to generate offense, the Ashton Aguirre secured a ball near midfield and played one up the left wing to Taliyah Parker. Parker worked it further upfield and centered one toward the box. With three Panther defenders converging, a clearing attempt near the top of the box was deflected by Parker and ricocheted to the left side of the penalty area. Akers found the ball, made a stop and go move to get a better angle and despite the three defenders, still managed to put enough on a ball to loft it to the opposite corner of the cage and tie the contest at 2-2 with 17:38 left.

Five minutes later, it was again a Parker throw in that created an opportunity for the Eutectics. Parker threw a ball from about 35 yards out toward the 18-yard box. PC's Oliva Scott gained control in the penalty area, but UHSP's Akers contested the ball and the two battled all to the way to the end line to the right of the Panthers' cage. Scott would get defensive support from Amarachi Ejimadu, but Akers continued to fight. A fallen Ejimadu hovered over the ball and Akers tapped it away for possession right on the end line. Scott came on to defend, contacted Akers who went down in the box resulting in the official awarding a penalty shot to the Eutectics with 11:33 remaining in the game. Aguirre would take the shot and elect to go right corner for a go-ahead goal and a 3-2 lead for the Purple and Gold.

Principia tried to turn up the offense in a frantic effort to get the game tied again. The Panthers registered four good shots over the final ten and a half minutes. The first was saved by Dixon, Parker blocked the next two in succession with the second one knocking Parker to the ground and the fourth shot sailed high over the net. The Eutectics hung on long enough and picked up the 3-2 victory, their first-ever win over the Panthers.

Principia outshot the Eutectics, 17-12. The Panthers put seven shots on goal with Dixon making five saves while UHSP scored on three of their five shots they put on net. UHSP is now 1-3-1 all-time against Principia. The Eutectics will scrimmage St. Mary of the Woods on Saturday prior to the next regular season game which is a week after that when they open American Midwest Conference play at Missouri Baptist.