Soccer keeps rolling
Siaw, Tahuona lead Liberty in 3-1 victory
The Flames men’s soccer team (7-5, 3-3 Big South) was able to extend its three-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory against the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (3-9, 1-5 Big South), Friday, Oct. 18. Two first-half goals propelled Liberty in the win.
WINNING – Sophomore forward Blessing Tahuona (11) scored his third goal of the season to help lead the Flames past the Blue Hose for the sixth consecutive year. Photo credit Leah Stauffer
Liberty placed pressure on Presbyterian early. In the 11th minute, a shot by Liberty forward Blessing Tahuona was inadvertently kicked in by a Presbyterian defender, which gave the Flames an early 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Tahuona and the Flames offense kept up the attack, attempting three shots on goal. However, they came up empty on every strike.
In the 35th minute, forward Ernest Siaw made his entrance into the game. Within the same minute, Siaw received a long pass from midfielder Tim Harbison and netted his first career goal in a Liberty uniform.
With the first period coming to a close, Presbyterian pushed the ball down the field. The Blue Hose had a chance to cut the deficit to one when midfielder Josh Carter sent a corner kick to defenseman Brett Godwin, who shot wide of the goal.
Liberty went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
As was the case in the first half, the Flames continued to attack the Presbyterian defense. In the 56th minute, Tahuona scored his third goal of the season on assists from forward Kyle Breitmeyer and midfielder Sam Duninck.
With the three-goal lead, the Flames were able to place the game out of reach. The Blue Hose scored late in the second period, but their fate was already sealed.
Leading goal scorer Sachem Wilson was held scoreless through the game, but he was able to place tension on Blue Hose goalkeeper Tyler Beadle with four shots on goal.
Flames goalkeeper Jeremy Lee had four saves on the evening. Liberty also outshot Presbyterian 14-12 during the game. Although the Blue Hose held the advantage in corner kicks 5-4, they were not able to convert on the opportunities on offense.
The Flames evened out their wins and losses columns within the Big South Conference, holding fourth place and the tie keeper against Gardner-Webb, who is also 3-3 in conference play.
The Flames will have a nonconference match at N.C. State (4-4-4, 1-4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) Tuesday, Oct. 22 before traveling to face division leader No. 10 Coastal Carolina (10-2, 5-0 Big South) Friday, Oct. 25.