09/28/2024 Carlinville, IL- The Westminster College men's soccer team opened conference play with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Blackburn College on Saturday afternoon in Carlinville, Illinois.  

The match was competitive from the start, with both teams eager to secure their first conference victory. Blackburn struck first in the 30th minute giving the Beavers a 1-0 lead. 

The Blue Jays rallied with a goal in the 42nd minute from senior forward Adam Luetkemeyer, leveling the score at 1-1. Building on that momentum, Westminster took the lead just before halftime. In the 44th minute, freshman defender Matthew Garrone scored his first collegiate goal, assisted by senior Tyler Christle, putting the Blue Jays ahead 2-1 at the break. 

The second half intensified as both teams fought for control. Westminster's defense held strong until the 80th minute, when Blackburn equalized. Despite opportunities on both sides in the closing minutes, neither team could find the decisive goal, resulting in a 2-2 draw. 

Defensively, goalkeeper Toby Hughes was solid between the posts for Westminster, making four saves on six shots on goal. The Blue Jays faced 15 total shots from Blackburn but managed to limit their effectiveness with strong defensive play. Offensively, Westminster was efficient, converting two of their four shots on goal. 

The Blue Jays play again on Tuesday October 1st, finally returning to their home field after a month of road games, against DePauw University at 4:00PM.