Men’s Soccer team faces defeat against Georgia State Panthers

With only 12 practices and two games under its belt, the Liberty University Men’s Soccer team fought hard in a 2-1 defeat at home against the Georgia State Panthers Sunday afternoon.  

This loss was the Flames’ third in program history to the Panthers and the second since their 2-1 loss in Georgia. The Flames were hoping to succeed on Sunday’s game, but they fell short without senior Luke Eberle. The team had to adjust without its second-year captain and midfielder on the field due to an 88th-minute red card in the Flames’ last game against Longwood. It was his first missed game in his career. 

“We are a team of leaders together,” junior defenseman and captain Bryce Swinehart said. “Our teamwork is unity.”  

It was a low-scoring first half for both teams; the Flames seemingly outplayed the Panthers but couldn’t find the back of their net with their chances.  

“Finishing 0-0, we felt like we should have been up,” Swinehart said after the first half. 

Coming out hot at the beginning of the second half, Flames senior forward Gora Gora sunk a goal in the bottom left after a Panther’s miscue. The Flames were not able to build on the momentum the miscue gifted them, however, as the Panthers’ Gustavo Marques responded with a goal of his own for his first of the young season.  

“The goals we gave away are fixable,” Head Coach Kelly Findley said postgame. “It wasn’t a calamity of errors but one moment.”  

In the 75th minute the Panthers landed the killing blow; scoring on a rebounded save by Flames goaltender, junior Owen Moore. Moore laid out to save the first Panthers chance and did so successfully, but there was another Panther in the crease to capitalize on the opportunity for the score.  

Even though the Flames were down 2-1 with one minute remaining, they battled hard in the box with the crowd on their feet counting down the clock, but it wasn’t enough, as they fell 2-1 to their guests.  

The Liberty defense played a key role throughout the game. With multiple slide tackles, blocks and tracking to get back to defend the goal, there were moments of lost possession that hurt the team. 

“We have to want to defend,” Swinehart said. “Discipline and defending.”  

With a total of six saves in the game, Moore has shown astonishing potential in his third season with the Flames and first as the starting goaltender.  

“It has been encouraging to watch Owen not only as a player, but as a person,” Findley said. “He has grown into a strong man of Christ.”  

Although the team has had a tough start to the season, Swinehart remains hopeful.  

 “It’s easy for teams to feel like the season is over,” Swinehart said. “But we are only three games in; the conference hasn’t started yet.”  

“The freshmen have stepped in to do the role,” Swinehart said. “They raised a level and are on the team for a reason.” 

The Flames look ahead to a week of practice, training and preparation for a Friday night fight against the University of South Carolina Upstate.  

“(We are going to) tweak some things and work out little knots,” Swinehart said. “And it will show on Friday.” 

Young is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion.