PIKEVILLE – Neither UPIKE soccer team could find a way to head into the conference tournament with a win after Life swept the Bears. The Running Eagles beat the women’s team 4-0 and the men’s team 2-0.
Women’s
UPIKE had a decent first half against the Running Eagles, holding them to just eight shots while getting three of their own. But Life was still able to get on the scoreboard early with a goal from Callie Lambert in the 11th minute.
That goal motivated the Bears a bit who got off three shots within 15 minutes of that goal, but Life keeper Sydney Young wouldn’t be beat.
Luck wasn’t on the Bears’ side either in the second half after Erica Burkhardt made a lunging punch save, but the punch went straight off a UPIKE defender into the goal.
Irene Munoz-Rodriguez scored Life’s third goal in the waning minutes of the match.
The UPIKE women finish out the regular season at 2-14, 0-7 in the conference. They will go into the conference tournament as the No. 8 seed.
Men’s
The men’s match was much more defensive of an affair. Although the two teams combined for 36 shots, only 16 were on goal — 14 of which were for Life.
Much like the women’s match, Life got on the board early with a long-distance strike from Thierry Jules. Bears goalkeeper Anibal Navarro then stopped seven straight shots until Jules beat him again on a bouncing ball in the box from a corner kick.
Between fouls and corners, Life held a distinct advantage in set piece opportunities. The Running Eagles had
UPIKE was able to get a number of shots off in the second half, but Life did well to keep defenders in the way of the goal and block multiple shots.
The UPIKE men finish the regular season at 8-10, 1-6 in the conference. They will enter the conference tournament as the No. 7 seed.
(Source: UPIKE Sports Information Office)