Junior Kai VanCourt scored two goals and assisted on a third Tuesday to lead the Mississippi University for Women men’s soccer team to a 5-4 win over Talladega College in Oxford, Alabama.
The win helped the Owls (7-7) in their bid for a spot in the United Small College Athletic Association postseason tournament, which takes six teams. The W is ranked No. 7 in the most recent poll.
“It was a gritty game from the beginning and very physical,” Owls coach Louis Alexander said. “For the most part, our guys kept their head during pivotal points and played, which is what stood out most. We executed specific things we’ve worked on in training, which was great to see.”
Junior midfielder Paulo Carneiro scored what turned out to be the deciding goal during the 87th minute with an assist from VanCourt to give the Owls a 5-3 lead.
VanCourt opened the scoring in the 30th minute with an assist from Vini Lopes. The Owls kept the Tornadoes off the scoreboard until the final 2 minutes of the half, when Thierry Nsenga tied the game at 1-1.
The second half was far different than the first, as the teams combined for 7 goals after intermission.
Junior Reggi Pech started the second-half scoring, netting his first goal of the season in the 59th minute to put the Owls back in front. Less than 10 minutes later, senior Asahel Salgado increased the Owls’ advantage to 3-1 on his second goal of 2021.
Talladega got a goal back in the 74th minute to make it 3-2 before a four-goal barrage over the final 10 minutes.
That began with VanCourt’s second goal of the day — and fourth of the season — in the 81st minute, unassisted. The Tornadoes again pulled within one 3 minutes later, but Carneiro’s goal gave the Owls a cushion going into the closing minutes.
Both teams took 13 shots, with the Owls putting nine on goal. Owls keeper David McCutchen earned 3 saves.
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