Columbia, Mo. – Tonight the Columbia College men's soccer team was back on the field when they played host to the Missouri Valley College Vikings in a nonconference matchup. The Cougars, who came into this game with a 1-1 record, were defeated by the Vikings by a final score of 1-0. With the loss the Cougars fall to 1-2 on the year.
In the first half of the match, the Cougars came out and were able to control the tempo early. They created several scoring opportunities throughout the half but could not find the back of the net as the Vikings keeper made three saves in the period. Both sides started to get physical as the half progressed with the teams combining for a total of 13 fouls and two yellow cards. However, the game remained scoreless heading into the halftime break.
Missouri Valley came out in the second half and were able to control the possession early. They ran at the Cougars to begin the half and created several scoring opportunities with their best coming midway through the period. The Vikings had the ball deep in Columbia's end and were able to find Alex Cordon at the top of the box who ripped a shot off the crossbar and out of play. The Cougars turned it on following the shot off the crossbar and created multiple opportunities at the end of the game but were unable to finish as the game entered overtime.
Neither team was able to score in the first overtime but three and a half minutes into the second overtime the Vikings were able to work the ball deep into the Cougars end before the ball bounced out to the top of the box where a Missouri Valley player was waiting and ripped a shot into the bottom right corner to give the Vikings the 1-0 win.
Nicolau Neto was in goal for the Cougars as the senior made three saves in the contest.
The Cougars are back in action on Tuesday, September 5th when they take on Kansas Wesleyan University in a nonconference matchup. The game is set to kick off at 4 p.m. on R. Marvin Owens Field.
