The Drury Panthers, enjoying some home-cooking following a pair of weekend road trips, shut out the Rockhurst Hawks this evening. The men earned a 1-0 win on a 78th minute goal by sophomore Jake Allison. The women enjoyed a pair of goals from twins Mandi and Micah Little to earn their 2-0 win. Photos and additional details Thursday morning.
The men’s game was an exciting affair as it seemed that it wasn’t a question of if, but when, they would put one or more goals into the net. The teams ability to move the ball almost at will down the wings, with the combinations they are able to create with front runners Wilczewski & Cherisma, offered numerous opportunities. Combined with a defense that stifled Heinemann & Leebo, holding them to one shot total, positioned them to get the home win as they continue their pursuit of a GLVC playoff berth.
The goal came as a result of the offensive pressure they had been able to mount throughout the game. Senior captain Cody Reinberg was in the offensive third as the result of a corner kick. As the Panthers controlled the loose ball, it was swung around to Reinberg who called upon his earlier club experiences as a forward and he pushed the ball past a pair of defenders and made a run into the left side of the box. Jake Allison had planted himself at the top of the six yard box and as he held off the very physical challenge of the defender to push him away, Reinberg’s ball arrived and Allison was able to redirect it past the on-rushing goal keeper and into the net for the game winner.
The women had a somewhat easier route, helped by a goal in the 20th minute by Mandi Little. It came as a result of hard work by Melissa Perry in the left corner where she ran down a ball, beat a defender and sent a cross into the box. Little found time and space to settle and turn, sending her shot from 15 yards out to the right corner. The Panthers continued their highly efficient offense (they’ve been outshot 131-115 on the season, 14-10 against Rockhurst) by getting a counter-attack goal from Micah Little in the 79th minute. Freshman Sarah Colvin-Fritz collected a loose ball, sent it to Mandi Little on the right touchline who in turn sent a fine long ball down the line to spring Melissa Perry who had timed her run perfectly. As the defenders closed on Perry, the ball fell to Little who made the parallel run and tapped into the net for the final difference.
The women are 4-2-1 in the Conference, with six games remaining. Five of them are against teams with records below .500 in the Conference and only WI-Parkside has a positive overall record of that group. Four of them are at home, including the final home game of the season against #7 Northern Kentucky. Playoff bound? If they hold the home court, the answer is yes and the real question is where can they finish? They are fifth currently.
The men are 4-3 in the Conference. Their road is more difficult but not impossible by any stretch. By winning this weekend at home, against opponents that have overall losing records, they will then face a tough road stretch against Lewis and WI-Parkside before returning home in late October to host Bellarmine and #2 Northern Kentucky. Like last year, it will probably come down to the final weekend and winning at home.
The Panthers host the University of Southern Indiana Friday with the women’s game beginning at 5:00 pm and the men at 7:30 pm on the grass (Hutchens Field). Sunday Kentucky Wesleyan College visits with 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm game times, at Harrison Stadium.
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