Lancers Top Cumberlands In Dramatic Fashion
August 27, 2022 at 2:47 a.m.
Lancers Top Cumberlands In Dramatic Fashion
By Grant Cook-
The Lancers took down Cumberlands 1-0 thanks to a late penalty kick in front of a packed stadium. Felipe Gruber earned the spotlight with his PK goal to defeat the Patriots, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
Grace has two more ranked teams coming to town in short order. The Lancers host Southeastern (also receiving votes) on Saturday at 3 p.m. before hosting No. 7 Indiana Tech on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Lancers improve to 2-0 on the season as a result of Thursday’s victory.
To begin the match, each team had turns in possession over the first 10 minutes as the two quality sides gained a feel for the game.
The Patriots earned longer spells of possession, but the Lancers did not allow a clean shot on their goal.
Diogo Lopes had Grace’s best early chance when his headed effort in the penalty box went over the crossbar.
The chances were clear with 20 minutes left in the half. Daniel Santos Rosa made a long run down the right side of the field. After charging an entire half of the field, he had a pair of attempts from close range that seemed destined for the back of the net, but a sprawling Patriot defender cleared the ball off the goal line.
Almost immediately, Cumberlands had their best chance. The Patriots played a long ball over Grace’s backline. The ensuing chipped shot glanced harmlessly off the goalpost, however.
The Patriots earned a few more chances as the half wore on, breaking the spells of possession between the teams.
The match went into halftime scoreless. Cumberlands had a slight 8-7 edge in shot attempts with each team having three shots on goal.
The Patriots began the second half as the aggressor, trying a handful of hard shots from outside the penalty box.
Cumberlands peppered Grace’s goal with seven shots in the first 18 minutes of the half, but Grace’s defense and goalkeeper Matteo Conci remained unharmed.
The Lancers had a golden opportunity with 11 minutes left in regulation. Scanferlato Simone and Jonny Mora combined for a quick attack along the left side of the field. Simone looped a cross in front of the goal, which came to Blake Burns. But Burns’ volley was parried away by the Patriots’ goalkeeper at the last instant.
Grace also earned a free kick with less than five minutes to play. But a hard shot from Juan Camilo Garcia was saved.
The match was won in the final minutes. Simone danced his way into the penalty box and was tripped by a Patriot defender.
Felipe Gruber stepped up and drilled the penalty kick into the back of the net, then raced with his teammates to celebrate in front of a euphoric crowd.
The Patriots could not produce a desperation attempt in response and was saddled with the defeat.
Conci registered the shutout after making seven saves. His clean sheet was aided by the stout defending of Antonio Lobo, Flavio Cruz and Diogo Lopes.
The Lancers took down Cumberlands 1-0 thanks to a late penalty kick in front of a packed stadium. Felipe Gruber earned the spotlight with his PK goal to defeat the Patriots, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
Grace has two more ranked teams coming to town in short order. The Lancers host Southeastern (also receiving votes) on Saturday at 3 p.m. before hosting No. 7 Indiana Tech on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Lancers improve to 2-0 on the season as a result of Thursday’s victory.
To begin the match, each team had turns in possession over the first 10 minutes as the two quality sides gained a feel for the game.
The Patriots earned longer spells of possession, but the Lancers did not allow a clean shot on their goal.
Diogo Lopes had Grace’s best early chance when his headed effort in the penalty box went over the crossbar.
The chances were clear with 20 minutes left in the half. Daniel Santos Rosa made a long run down the right side of the field. After charging an entire half of the field, he had a pair of attempts from close range that seemed destined for the back of the net, but a sprawling Patriot defender cleared the ball off the goal line.
Almost immediately, Cumberlands had their best chance. The Patriots played a long ball over Grace’s backline. The ensuing chipped shot glanced harmlessly off the goalpost, however.
The Patriots earned a few more chances as the half wore on, breaking the spells of possession between the teams.
The match went into halftime scoreless. Cumberlands had a slight 8-7 edge in shot attempts with each team having three shots on goal.
The Patriots began the second half as the aggressor, trying a handful of hard shots from outside the penalty box.
Cumberlands peppered Grace’s goal with seven shots in the first 18 minutes of the half, but Grace’s defense and goalkeeper Matteo Conci remained unharmed.
The Lancers had a golden opportunity with 11 minutes left in regulation. Scanferlato Simone and Jonny Mora combined for a quick attack along the left side of the field. Simone looped a cross in front of the goal, which came to Blake Burns. But Burns’ volley was parried away by the Patriots’ goalkeeper at the last instant.
Grace also earned a free kick with less than five minutes to play. But a hard shot from Juan Camilo Garcia was saved.
The match was won in the final minutes. Simone danced his way into the penalty box and was tripped by a Patriot defender.
Felipe Gruber stepped up and drilled the penalty kick into the back of the net, then raced with his teammates to celebrate in front of a euphoric crowd.
The Patriots could not produce a desperation attempt in response and was saddled with the defeat.
Conci registered the shutout after making seven saves. His clean sheet was aided by the stout defending of Antonio Lobo, Flavio Cruz and Diogo Lopes.
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