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ST. CHARLES, Missouri – Houston Christian University dropped its second game in a row, falling to league-leading Lindenwood University 2-1 at Hunter Stadium Sunday afternoon. After HCU had leveled things with 25 minutes to play, the hosts put a game-winner on the board in the 80th minute to maintain their spot at the top of the conference table.
The hosts jumped out in front early, as Alander Soares took a ball down the left channel before blasting in a shot from 15 yards away in the eighth minute. The Huskies had four shots but none on target in the first half, while
Alex Aitken made saves on two other shots for the Lions, who took a 1-0 lead to the intermission.
Aitken would come through again nine minutes into the second half, this time stopping an attempt by Soares.
D'Alessandro Herrera was stopped by Gavin Roberts in the 57th minute as the Huskies chased a tying score.
Just into the 63rd minute, the Huskies got a takeway from
Hans Leza in the final third, and he then looped a pass up ahead to midfield.
Joby Reid took control and led a ball up the middle where Herrera controlled it just past a stumbling defender. He then made a nice step-over past a drawn out Roberts and slotted home the shot with his right foot going to his left, knotting the match a one-apiece.
Lindenwood would grab the lead back in the 80th minute. Ethan Blake carried a ball up the right sideline before stepping inside and leaving it off for Matteo Landais. The league assist leader this time did it himself, planting a shot 15 yards out to the top left corner just past the outstretched arms of Aitken for a 2-1 advantage.
The Huskies outshot the Lions 17-13, with the hosts holding a 5-4 advantage on goal and 4-3 on corners. HCU was whistled for four yellows to just one for Lindenwood, and had four offsides calls.
Herrera had five shots for HCU, including his fourth goal of the season.
Joby Reid had his team-high fifth assist of the year, while
Ricardo Garcia,
Ryan Okerayi and
Ben Thirkill each had three shot attempts. Aitken made three saves while facing 13 shots.
Soares had three shots and two on goal including the opening goal. Landais added a goal while four players registered an assist for the league-leading Lions (12-1-2) who now sit on 16 points in OVC play with a 5-1-1 mark.
HCU drops its second straight on the final road trip of the regular season, falling to 8-5-1 overall while seeing the OVC ledger go even at 3-3-1. The Huskies will conclude the regular season with three straight fixtures at Sorrels Field beginning on Friday, October 24, with a rematch against arch-rival University of the Incarnate Word. The two teams finished square 1-1 in San Antonio in late September.
#DawgsUp
