Eagles Second Half Attack Shocks Visiting CIU

Waleska, GA - Often in a successful sports season, a team will have a statement game where you can look back on the season and say that is where this team took off.  We are way too early at this point of the season to know this, but Reinhardt Men's Soccer very well could have had that game this evening at Ken White Field.

The Eagles had a 3-1 upset win over #23 and undefeated Columbia International (CIU) Rams.  The Rams brought a very impressive 5-0-2, 3-0-1 (AAC) record into Waleska, but they will be leaving with more questions than answers as they head back to Columbia.

It was an exciting game between two AAC power teams in Men's Soccer and the first half showed with the two teams deadlocked at 0-0. Both teams had a few point-blank range shots on goal that were either saved by the keepers or the shot went wide of the goal. Eagles Goalkeeper, Elijah Clark did a great job keeping the Eagles in the game making 2 saves from 3 shots on goal. In all, the Rams were able to fire off 10 shots in total - but only 3 of those were in Clark's area.

The Rams would strike first just 10 minutes into the second half when they had a counter-attack that put the Eagles' backline on their heels.  A perfectly sent through-ball reached the foot of the Ram's striker on the left-hand side and he was able to get on past a diving Clark.

Although behind, the Eagles did not let the 1-0 deficit rattle them and they continued playing their brand of soccer.  The pivotal point in the game came just four minutes after the Ram's goal when Carlos Ayala-Viera was taken down inside the box.  The ref immediately pointed to the penalty spot giving the Eagles a chance to level the game.  Rafael Pais quickly grabbed the ball and fronted the Ram's keeper waiting for his chance to equalize the game.  Second later, Pais did just that as he fired a shot in the left corner of the goal past the diving Ram's keeper.

After watching the tied first half of the game, many would think that this game would stay locked at one and the teams end in a draw, but it would be the Eagles that turned on the jets from this point on in the game. It would be less than five minutes after the penalty by Pais that the Eagles would make their statement.

In the sixty-first minute of the game, the Eagles had a full attack going in the Ram's end of the field. After a few ricochet balls in the box, the ball landed at the feet of midfielder Benja Elgueta. Elgueta looked first to get his shot at goal, but he was closed down fast by the Ram's backline. As he shielded the ball, he was able to lay off a past just outside the box for the incoming Jiovanni Cruz. Cruz made the perfect strike on the ball keeping it low, fast, and on frame.  The keeper could not make a play on the speeding ball and the Eagles were now up 2-1 with less than thirty minutes in the game.

The second-half attack by the Eagles would not stop there. Just one minute later, the Eagles created a counter-attack of their own and Cruz would send a long ball from the mid-stripe area to a sprinting Andres Jorquera who was making his way down the right flanks of Ken White Field. Jorquera made a move around the Ram's fullback and was able to fire off a shot inside the box which went far corner past the outreached arms of the Ram's keeper.  This would put the Eagles up with a commanding 3-1 lead and left everyone in attendance somewhat shocked at the new lead.

Reinhardt would still keep the pressure on trying to get their shots on goal, but they also locked down defensively and did not allow the Rams to get a good look at the goal in the final minutes of the game.  It was a long twenty-plus final minutes, but the Eagles hung in and were rewarded with their second AAC win of the season.

For his efforts, Jiovanni Cruz was awarded the Man of the Match by Head Coach Frankie Ruiz. This was Cruz's first goal and assist of his Reinhardt career and a game he will most likely remember forever.

The Eagles do not have much time to relish in their big conference win as they will face another ranked opponent on Saturday evening. The Eagles will be on the road facing #12 ranked Georgia Gwinnett who hold a 4-1-2 record. The Eagles will have to play another solid game in order to keep their current win streak going.  The game is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen at the following link:  hhttps://www.youtube.com/@GGC_Athletics