KIRKSVILLE, Mo.—The Truman Men's Soccer team picked up its first win of the fall 2021 campaign as they defeated William Jewell 2-1 Friday afternoon at Bulldog Soccer Park. Andy Brennan got the Bulldogs on the board first with a penalty shot goal and then Luke Payne added a second goal in the 80th minute.
Less than three minutes into the game, a foul in the Cardinal goalie box allowed the Bulldogs the chance to shoot the PK. Brennan drilled the shot hard to his right and caught the keeper diving the wrong way for his first goal of the fall season. Truman kept up the pressure throughout the early stages of the game as Jack Knust and Collin McDonough both tested Jewell keeper Eli Gratz but the Cardinals keeper kept it a 1-0 game. Truman keeper Evan Witte made two stops in the first half to send the Bulldogs into intermission up 1-0.
In the second half, Jewell had a shot in the 50th minute to even it up but Witte was once again up to the challenge. McDonough had his second shot on goal just a few minutes later, but Gratz made the stop. Sam Newton had a great shot later in the half, but Gratz made a one handed stop that kept it 1-0. Witte picked up another save in the 67th minute, and the next shot was the game winning goal from Payne—played off the foot of Max Sengl to put Truman up 2-0 in the 80th minute. Jewell had just a glimmer of hope as Mikhail McComie got an 88th minute goal after a mix up on the Truman defense and snuck the ball past Witte. But from there Truman held the line the rest of the way and took home the 2-1 win.
The Bulldogs will be back in action next weekend as they close their season with road games at Southwest Baptist and Rockhurst.
