CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – As weather delayed the start time of the Tiger's home opener, Campbellsville was unable stop the NAIA #1 and reigning national champion, Central Methodist University Eagles.
A physical matchup which tallied 38 total fouls and 4 yellow cards, proved to be too much as the Tigers fell to the Eagles 4-1, picking up their first loss of the season.
With storms, in the area throughout the early part of the evening, the original 8:00 start was pushed back 20 minutes. Nonetheless, as the storms cleared, moderate rain continued throughout a majority of the first half.
The Eagles controlled possession for most of the first half, outshooting the Tigers 9-4 in the frame.
The scoring starting in the 11
thminute as the first shot of the match found the net after a throw in was chested down by CMU's Rodrigo Paredes. Parades then fired the ball into the net for his first goal of the year.
While the Tigers had numerous breakaway attempts early on in the first half, it wasn't until a free kick from Azad Illiozer led
Connor Grant into a beautiful sliding goal to knot the match at one.
Less than two minutes after the goal, the Eagles recaptured the lead as Paredes tallied his second goal of the match. Central Methodist never looked back as two more goals in the period created a 4-1 Eagle lead going into halftime.
It was the physical play that created the story during the second half. 21 fouls in the period halted the scoring action as neither team was able to add to their first half totals. Campbellsville, however, was able to match their first half shot totals, finishing the night with eight shots, to CMU's 13.
Overall, the Tigers were unable to close the gap the Eagles picked up in the first period picking up their first loss of the season.
The Tigers will have a 13-day break before heading to Chicago on September 7
th to play St. Xavier at 7:00 p.m. ET.
