HUGE Win for Eagles Soccer at CIU!

Columbia, SC - This was the win that Coach Johnson and his crew were looking for this season. They have battled tough teams all seasons and have come away with some tie games or narrow losses. CIU was sitting at the top of the standings to start the day, but with the win - the Eagles have overtaken them and moved into a tie for first place in the conference with Tennessee Wesleyan. Tennessee Wesleyan and Reinhardt now have duplicate conference records and they tied when they played each other a few weeks ago.

First Half

The game was a battle of two heavyweights of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (ACC) and the play did not disappoint the fans in attendance and those watching back home on YouTube. The teams fought to a 0-0 tie to go into the half with both teams getting a few shots on goal in the first half. CIU put up 6 shots on Eagle Goalkeeper, Niko Tzevelekos, who had 4 saves and a clean sheet in the game. Reinhardt would have just 2 shots on goal in the first half.

Second Half

The second half would play out the same as the first half to start. The shots on goal would be the exact duplicate as the first half with the Eagles getting 2 shots on goal and the Rams of CIU taking 6 shots. The big difference in this one was that one of Reinhardt's two shots on goal found the back of the net. in the seventy-fifth minute, Rafael Pais would be the man that would break the 0-0 tie on an assist from the crafty Blake White. The goal was all that the Eagles needed as the Tzeveloks, Brady Craig, and the defensive backline would not allow a goal in the game.

Wrap Up

At this point in the season, the Eagles are trying to put themselves in a position to receive a good spot in the tournament bracket and maybe get home-field advantage. There are still some tough games remaining including Milliagan, but the win today places the Eagles in a good spot for now. With just about two weeks remaining in this regular season, every win and every goal is important and can be the difference between being in the top one or two spots and the third, fourth, or fifth. Time will tell, but the Eagles seem to be playing their best soccer of the season right now and peaking at the right time.

The remainder of the Eagles' schedule is Truett McConnell at home on Wed., Oct 19th, at Milligan on Saturday, Oct. 22nd, home vs Montreat on Wed., Oct 22nd, and the final regular season game is on the road at KCU on Saturday, Oct. 29th. Stay tuned to www.reinhardteagles.com for more information on games and the upcoming AAC Soccer Tournament.