Hillboro, Kan. - Rylan Nowak scored the decisive goal late in the first half, and the USM men's soccer team battled through their second conference match up with a 2-0 victory over Tabor this afternoon on Saturday, September 19. The match was called because of weather at 77:42, preserving a road win that moved the Spires to 1-3-2 overall and 1-1-0 in conference play.

Nowak broke the scoreless tie at 40:59 with an unassisted finish, giving the spires a 1-0 halftime lead. He had tested Tabor goalkeeper Fabeiro with the Spires' first shot on goal at 18:16 and finished the match with three shots, all on target. Nowak's goal stood as the game-winner.

Goalkeeper Xavier Ezell protected the advantage as the Bluejays tried to respond. Ezell denied Marinakis at 27:53 and stopped two attempts by Hugo late in the opening half. He turned away another Marinakis shot at 47:43 before making his fifth and final save at 74:55. Ezell finished with five saves and did not allow a goal, recording the shutout.

USM created sustained pressure after halftime, taking 13 of its 17 shots in the second half. That pressure produced another goal at 60:18, when Alfie Scandle scored from an Andrey Rincon assist following a Spires corner kick. The finish gave USM a 2-0 cushion, while Aaron Jackson contributed a match-high six shots, including two on goal.

The Spires finished with a 17-6 advantage in shots, a 9-5 edge in shots on goal and eight corner kicks to Tabor's four. Fabeiro made seven saves for the Bluejays, but USM's two goals and Ezell's work at the other end secured the conference-opening victory before weather brought the match to an early close.

Coming up ...

USM Men's soccer will come back home for their third KCAC match up against the Southwestern College Moundbuilders. The women will kick off on Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:30 p.m. on what is sure to be a beautiful evening double-header at Berkel Memorial Stadium in Leavenworth.