Eagles Fall to Truett in Hard Fought Battle at Ken White

Waleska, GA - The air was ripe with anticipation for the clash of titans between Truett McConnell and Reinhardt University. With the teams lined up, and the stands packed to the rafters, we were promised an eventful night.

The Eagles would start the night off strong with Marta Vicente Arche getting the first shot of the night after a shimmy shammy past Truett's right back left her stranded. Lois Mattock was a warrior through the midfield, throughout the first half as she fought and scrounged for every loose ball. She embodied the passion of the tie. Truett McConnell would fire back with 10 minutes down firing a shot into the safe hands of Reagan Horton. The Eagles' plan was clear: press the backline. Their strategy was working to regain the ball in the opposition's third but was missing the final pass. Still, the effort by Belle Seward, Reese Wise, and Marta Vicente-Arche was admirable and working. Reagan Horton would continue to shine as the half went on with two more fantastic saves. She had big gloves to fill with Sarah Bambrick's injury, but she's done a magnificent job in goal for the Eagles and seems to grow in stature every time she touches the pitch. The half would end 0-0 with no team coming out as the clear favorite.

The second half had the same fiery intensity with Sarah Bruce leading the midfield, carrying the ball forward, and breaking down Truett's opportunities. There was very little room to give as the ball switched from team to team like the up-and-down motion of a seesaw with neither team being able to break through the other's disciplined backline. Kennedy Vineyard was particularly crucial for Reinhardt as her pace would allow the team to break forward and overload the right flank.

Unfortunately, with 25 minutes left, disaster struck as The Bear's #9 was able to turn and score a neat finish into the back of the net. 0-1. The Reinhardt team would continue to connect up and down the field with a chance from a corner going right over the bar. Despite everything, Truett would score once more with a chance from outside the box. The remainder of the game saw Reinhardt give everything they had to overturn the deficit but were unlucky to not get one back. A disappointing result, but a lost battle is not a lost war and Reinhardt always comes back stronger.

Next up for Reinhardt is a road trip to Milligan on Saturday.  It is another chance to get back on the winning path in the AAC, where the Eagles are in seventh position with a 3-2 record. All the teams in front of Reinhardt have played two or three conference games, so they will have time to move up and pass the teams as the season progresses.  Including the game this Saturday, Reinhardt has seven conference games left and can position themselves for a good spot in the AAC Tournament.  If things go right for the Eagles, they will have another shot at Truett McConnell in the tournament.

AAC Standings:

https://www.aacsports.com/sports/wsoc/2024-25/standings