Union Men’s Soccer Advances to AAC Championship Match
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pikeville (KY) (11-6-3, 7-2-3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Union Commonwealth (12-2-4, 9-0-3) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Union Commonwealth University's men's soccer team (12-2-4) secured a 2-0 victory over Pikeville (11-6-3) on Tuesday at Williamson Stadium.
With the win, the Bulldogs advanced to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament Championship and extended their program record for shutouts in a single season to 14.
Game Recap
First Half – Union Commonwealth 1, Pikeville 0
Union struck early in the 17th minute when Ethan Kemp netted his second goal of the season off an assist from Zak Hardman, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs outshot the Bears 6-4 in the first half, while goalkeeper Gabriel Mendoza recorded one save to preserve the lead heading into halftime.
Second Half – Union Commonwealth 2, Pikeville 0
In the 79th minute, Eduardo Ribeiro doubled the Bulldogs' advantage, slotting home his fourth goal of the season off a pass from Ron-Jay Watson.
Union outshot Pikeville 17-7 overall, including a 10-3 edge in shots on goal. Watson led the attack with four shots, followed by Ribeiro with three. Kemp and Samuel Odame each added two, while Patrick Taylor and Jordan Blake registered one apiece.
Mendoza tallied three saves in the shutout, his 12th clean sheet of the season, as Union continued its dominant defensive form.
Union remains the top-ranked defensive team in the NAIA, boasting a goals-against average of just 0.29. The Bulldogs also continue to lead the NAIA with 14 shutouts on the season.
Check out the Access Health Man of the Match here.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will face Milligan in the AAC Championship on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. at Williamson Stadium.
