HENDERSON — A strong second half by the Freed-Hardeman University Lions saw the hosts tied with the No. 3 Cumberland University Phoenix in the final stretch of Friday's Mid-South Conference matchup. Two late goals by the Phoenix were unanswered until the final whistle of a 3-1 defeat.
Freed-Hardeman (4-2-3, 0-2-0 MSC) were on the defensive side of the pitch a majority of the first half, with Cumberland maintaining possession 65% of the opening 45 minutes. The home team forced multiple bad shots and drew the Phoenix offside twice until
Paolo Sparks had a shot go high at 17:41. Cumberland got on the board first after a corner kick allowed the ball to stay loose long enough for a shot from outside the box to be deflected into the net in the 40th minute. By the end of the half, CU had put up 10 shots, though only two were on target.
The Lions came out strong in the second half, putting up two shots in quick succession that were both saved by the Cumberland (6-0-2, 2-0-0 MSC) keeper. Though not as FHU drew it up, the hosts got on the board at 66:03 when
Henry Appiah sent a cross attempt into the box that hit the chest of a Phoenix defender and rolled into the net. By collegiate scoring rules, the passing attempt by Appiah turned into his first collegiate goal to knot the game 1-1. That tie lasted a little over 10 minutes until a long pass from CU met with a sliding shot that crossed the line at 76:24. The Lions were the stunned in the 80th minute when a Cumberland shot weaved its way past a screened keeper to finish the scoring at 3-1.
The second half featured seven shots by the Lions, while holding Cumberland to four. Bourdon made three saves while
Evans Osei Amankwah joined
Henry Appiah with a team-high two shots.
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Up Next
The Lions will have short rest as they will face the Williams Baptist (Ark.) University Eagles on September 21 with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
