By Dustin Semore
FHU Sports Information Director
After a one-goal match that went down to the final minute, the Freed-Hardeman Lions tallied six goals in a comfortable defeat of Midway (Ky.) University. The Lions bested the Eagles by a final 6-2 tally. The Lions outshot their opponents 17-5 in the win.
FHU (4-1-0) got the scoring started at 11:09 when Joao Pedro sent a shot off the crossbar, where an FHU Lion was fouled inside the penalty area, awarding FHU a penalty kick. With Joao on the field and getting the ball for the kick, a few stutter steps sent the Midway keeper flying to the right side of the net, while Joao’s shot was chipped up and to the left to give FHU the early lead.
In the blink of an eye, Midway (0-5-0) struck back when a long pass from beyond the center line found an Eagle who had slipped by the FHU defense to score the equalizer at 12:57. Four minutes later, a nearly identical play occurred when a long pass found an open striker to give Midway the 2-1 lead at the 16:55 mark.
Freed-Hardeman managed to shake off the back-to-back goals to score two more in the opening half within seconds of each other. First, a corner kick from Jack O’Riordan at 22:46 found the noggin of Ian Matheus, whose header tied the match 2-2. In a little more than 20 seconds, O’Riordan set up his second assist of the contest when, with his back to the net, found Maciej Gorzynski making a beeline for the net. Gorzynski booted in the game-winning goal at 23:04 to go up 3-2.
Avery Flener continued his successful freshman campaign when the Lions blocked a clearing attempt to provide Gorzynski the opportunity to pass into the six-yard box where Flener was waiting for a one-touch shot into the net at 24:48.
After the halftime break, Gorzysnki continued his involvement by weaving in and out of Eagle traffic before giving way to Luis Aragon Sosa whose chip shot found the top-left corner of the net to give FHU a 5-2 advantage at 50:18. The Flener-Gorzynski duo struck for the final blow at 60:21 when Gorzynski’s ball movement drew the Midway keeper out of the net whose dive to gain possession was unsuccessful, leading to a quick centering pass and an easy strike for Flener to record his second goal of the day.
Omer Shifris earned the victory, stopping two shots on goal.
