BARBOURVILLE, Ky.— The Montreat College men's soccer team played Union Commonwealth University, a team receiving votes in the NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll, to a 1-1 draw Wednesday night at Williamson Stadium. Thanks to
Emilio Ruiz's tally in the final minutes, the Cavaliers captured their first point against the Bulldogs since Oct. 2, 2019.
Montreat now holds a 0-5-1 overall record and is 0-1-1 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. Meanwhile, Union Commonwealth stands at 1-2-1 overall with a 0-0-1 conference record.
The first half was marked by defensive resilience from Montreat, with goalkeeper
Frankie Zavala making critical saves, including stopping shots in the 14th and 30th minutes. Union applied consistent pressure, however, resulting in a goal in the 43rd minute to take a 1-0 lead. Ruiz had two notable attempts on target as the visitors sought to level the match before halftime, but both shots were saved.
At the break, the hosts owned statistical advantages in shots (10-3), shots on goal (5-3) and corner kicks (3-0). Zavala notched four saves through the match's initial 45 minutes.
The second period unfolded with the Cavs capitalizing on a late opportunity to secure a draw. Ruiz attempted an early shot in the 54th minute, setting the stage for an eventual payoff. As the half progressed, UCU struggled with fouls. Consecutive set pieces ultimately led to Ruiz breaking the deadlock. Outside the 18-yard box, Ruiz unleashed a left-footed screamer into the upper left corner of the net, leveling the score at 1-1 with just 3:58 remaining. The sophomore's first tally of the season ensured that both sides walked away with a point in the AAC standings.
"The guys performed excellently tonight," said head coach
Michael Bruce. "I'm extremely proud of everyone for the fight and determination they put into the game. They showed that they can compete with the top teams in our conference. This is a welcome performance and result after a difficult start to the season. We hope to use this to kick-start our season and put together some positive results moving forward."
Union Commonwealth ended the night with strong edges in shots (19-6) and corner kicks (10-3), but it only narrowly bested the Cavaliers in shots on target (6-4). The Bulldogs were also whistled for 14 fouls compared to the visitors' nine.
Ruiz registered the lone tally for Montreat, converting one of his four shots, three of which were on frame, into a goal.
Predrag Grbovic added to the attack with two shots, including one on target. Zavala made five saves against six shots faced during his initial start of the campaign.
The next challenge for the Cavs is a home matchup against Spartanburg Methodist College. The contest will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. at Pulliam Stadium in Black Mountain, N.C.
