Eureka, IL, 10/29/21 – The season was on the line for the Westminster College men's soccer team Friday afternoon at the Eureka College Red Devils. The Blue Jays needed a win Friday and then a Webster University win over Principia College on Saturday to sneak into the sixth and final seed of the SLIAC Post Season Conference Tournament that starts next week. The Blue Jays raced out to a 7-0 lead and would prevail 8-1 over the Red Devils. The Blue Jays must now wait for the results of tomorrows match between the Gorloks and Panthers. A Gorlok win sends the Jays to the postseason.
With the season on the line Junior midfielder Freddy Nene (Columbia, MO / Rock Bridge) would get things going for the Blue Jays early when in the fourth minute of the game he took a pass from Francois Moua (Owasso, Oklahoma / Owasso) and scored to give the Blue Jays the early 1-0 lead. The goal was Nene's fifth goal of the season.
Senior forward Andrew Sprengel (Winfield, MO / Winfield) would score the next three goals for the Blue Jays in the eighth, ninth and 19th minutes to give the Blue Jays a commanding 4-0 lead. Sprengel's hat trick accounted for his fifth, sixth and seventh goals of the season. Mustekbel Shoune (Columbia, MO / Rock Bridge) would complete the first half scoring when he connected in the 33rd minute for a 5-0 lead at the half. It was Shoune's fifth goal of the season.
The second half saw freshman Kaiden Royer (Thayer, IL / North Mac) score his first collegiate goal in the 60th minute off a pass from Ari Lieberman (Chesterfield, MO / Parkway Central) to make it 6-0. In the 63rd minute freshman Adam Leutkemeyer (Wentzville, MO / Timberland) scored his first collegiate goal to make it 7-0. After a Blue Jay foul in the box in the 74th minute Eureka capitalized on the penalty kick to cut the lead to 7-1. In the final minute of the game freshman Ethan Mort (Pacific, MO / St. Francis Borgia) would score his first collegiate goal off of an assist from Royer for the 8-1 final score.
The Blue Jays outshot the Red Devils 30-9 overall and 14-7 in shots on goal. The Blue Jays were aided by nine corner kicks to the Red Devils one. The Red Devils were whistled for nine fouls to the Blue Jays five.
Conner Benefield (Wentzville, MO / Timberland) started and made two saves in 70:10 of shutout work in net. Freshman Toby Hughes (Jafferson City, MO / Jefferson City) would take over and give up one goal while making four saves in 19:50 to finish the game.
The Webster versus Principia game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. The Blue Jays should know their fate by around 3:00 p.m.
