Flames soccer wins 3-1 against Wofford University

• Liberty Men’s Soccer team beats Wofford University 3-1 on Saturday.
• Wofford goal encouraged Liberty to play hard throughout the rest of the game.

 

Following a first half goal by Wofford University (0-8), the Liberty University men’s soccer team (4-2-1) responded with three unanswered goals, resulting in a Flames victory 3-1 Saturday, Sept. 23, at Osborne Stadium.

 

At the 21st minute of the first half Wofford scored its first and last goal of the game, after a kick to the right gave them a clear shot to score in the left side of the box.

 

“We were playing great and moving the ball while staying on top of the game, but we did not deal with one of their clearances,” Coach Jim Alder said. “(That) led them to go from box to box in about six seconds and score.”

 

Alder said it was more than just a first goal, it was a test of their character and it drove Liberty to score twice before halftime.

 

Midfielder Bobby Bynum said going down in goal makes it easy to drop your head, but Liberty’s defense stayed strong and held the line to play well.

 

“The first 15 minutes we were a little slow,” Bynum said. “But once we got the first goal we picked our heads up and moved the ball to play how we wanted to.”

 

Liberty tied the game at the 28th minute when Kevin Mendoza scored off of a penalty kick.

 

“The goal where we got the PK to equalize, that is what got us back in the game,” Alder said.

 

Liberty pushed on with its offense, giving them a second goal at the 30th minute.

Midfielder Pepe Segarra scored his first goal of the season when forward Tresor Mbuyu and midfielder Shaun Stocker assisted his goal. The ball was flipped from the middle into the right wing for a shot into the nearest corner.

 

“It was brilliant, one of the best goals I have seen in a very long time,” Alder said. “That is who Pepe is, he hadn’t scored at all this year but it was only a matter of time before he hit one.”

 

Alder said the goal gave them all momentum going into half time. He said Segarra’s goal was special and unique.

 

“When I saw (the ball) in the air, my first thought was put it in the goal,” Segarra said.

 

Liberty scored its third goal at the 73rd minute when Alex Dominguez headed off a crossing to pass to the post for Bynum to get a shot in.

 

Bynum said it was nice to see them come out with a win after the hard work they put in throughout the game.

 

“We just want to come into conference and keep getting wins,” Bynum said.

Wofford received 15 fouls by the end of the game with one red card and two yellow. Liberty finished with nine fouls and one yellow card.

 

Wofford ended with seven corner kicks and nine shots. Liberty’s goalkeeper, James Knoebel, had three saves. Liberty received five corner kicks and took 11 shots on Wofford, three of which were saved by their goalkeeper.

 

Alder said he was satisfied to finish the game in prayer with Wofford.

 

“Praise God, I am blessed the Wofford guys let us pray and share the gospel with them because that is important regardless of the result,” Alder said.  “We stay true to our mission.”

 

The Flames begin conference play at Osborne Stadium Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. against Gardner Webb.