WEST POINT, GA. - The Warner Men's Soccer team traveled out of Florida for the first time this season to take on Point University in West Point, GA on Thursday. The two teams battled in a tightly contested defensive affair that did not see it's first goal until 78th minute and would end in a 1-to-1 draw.
While the first half ended scoreless, the Royals created all the chances in the opening 45 minutes of play. Warner recorded 6 total shots in the 1st half to Point's 4 and recorded the only shots on goal in the half by either program with 2. The Royals offensive pressure also earned the team 4 corner kicks while the Royals defense did not allow a single corner for Point until late in the 2nd half.
Both programs would create dangerous chances in the 2nd half, but the two goalkeepers were able to keep the scoresheets clean for another 30 minutes into the half. Then in the 77th minute of play, Warner created a counter-attack after forcing a Skyhawks turnover on the Royals offensive half of the field. The Royals quickly attacked the Point defense and earned a free kick about 35 yards out after a Skyhawk defender committed a handball when attempting to slow down the Royals attack.
Xavier Lozada stepped up to take the kick for the Royals and hit an incredible shot that curved over the defense's wall and away from the goalkeeper into the top left corner of the goal breaking the tie and putting the Royals up by 1.
Point answered back in the 82nd minute to level the match at 1. Senior goalkeeper
Mikey Melvin came up clutch for the Royals late in the game, recording 3 of his 5 saves on the night in the final 8 minutes of the match to help secure the 1-to-1 draw on the road.
Warner's final stat line from Thursday night saw the Royals record 8 total shots, 4 on goal, 4 corners and 5 saves. The Royals will continue their road trip when they head to Alabama to take on Huntingdon College on Saturday.
Up Next:
The Royals will travel to Montgomery, Alabama to take on Huntingdon College on Saturday, September 19th with kickoff scheduled for 3:00pm.
#GodBlessGoRoyals | #TogetherAsOne
