Second half surge falls short as CBC prevails

(Photo courtest of Makenzie Ness)

CREVE COEUR, MO – The Central Baptist Mustangs continued their dominance against the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy with an American Midwest Conference opening 2-1 win over the Eutectics. Tim Echaniz scored twice for the Mustangs in the win as UHSP fell to 0-9-1 all-time against CBC.

It did not take the visitors long to push one past UHSP netminder Wyatt Taylor who had dropped his goals against average to 4.38 with some solid play in the last two outings. Central Baptist had pressure in the box as Joe McElhinney just missed converting on a header as his attempt went off the crossbar. The ball ricocheted to the center of the box and Hugh McAuley took a shot that was redirected by Echaniz for a 1-0 lead. The Eutectics managed to match the Mustangs physicality and keep it a one goal game going to the half. Late in the half, UHSP was called for a pair of yellow cards as Caden Grither and Tanner Tolan each picked one up. That would start a shift in things as the second half unfolded.

The clean play dissolved into heavy contact and physicality after halftime as things got chippie between the two things. The two teams repeatedly jawed at each other as the half progressed with the Eutectics called for a number fouls and yellow cards. Offensively, Echaniz was the beneficiary of one of those Eutectic fouls as he received a free pick from the left wing 25-yards out that he buried past Taylor for a 2-0 lead at the 70:10 mark. With 9:57 left, both McElhinney and Grither each received yellow cards which for Grither marked the end of his day as his second yellow resulted in a red card. The Eutectics were dealt five yellow cards throughout the game. Playing down a man with under five minutes to go, Tanner Tolan took a ball deep down the far-right flank. Tolan cut inside a defender, delivered a beautiful ball to Jacob Woodard who got the Eutectics on the board with 4:41 left to make it a 2-1 game. UHSP continued the heavy pressure over the final minutes, but could not get things back to even as CBC held on for a 2-1 win.

Central Baptist outshot UHSP 19-7 with only three of the Eutectics shots being on goal. Taylor ended up making six saves for the Purple and Gold while Edvin Yttergren needed to make just two for the Mustangs.

The Eutectics (0-8, 0-1) are on the road for their next game, a matchup against AMC newcomer Mission University next Saturday at 2:00p in Springfield, MO.