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Christian Brothers University Athletics

MSOC23 Aupied
4
Winner Christian Brothers CBU (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
0
Ouachita OUA (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Christian Brothers CBU
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
4
Final
0
Ouachita OUA
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Christian Brothers CBU 2 2 4
Ouachita OUA 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | James Garcia, Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications

Men's Soccer opens 2024 season with a 4-0 win at Ouachita Baptist

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Christian Brothers University men's soccer team (1-0) traveled to Ouachita Baptist (0-1) on Thursday afternoon for the 2024 season opener and came away with an impressive 4-0 victory. The Buccaneers were dominant for the full 90 minutes of the non-conference clash with 21 shots and six corners compared to four shots and one corner taken by the Tigers.

The first goal-scoring chance of the match came in the 12th minute. Christian Brothers' Alexander Blanche lined up for a free kick at an angle just outside the 18-yard box. He fired a low shot underneath the wall of defenders that was scooped up by Ouachita Baptist's goalkeeper.

The next goal-scoring opportunity of the first half was awarded to the Tigers in the 21st minute. OBU earned a free kick from a similar position on the opposite end of the pitch. The ensuing shot was saved easily by CBU's Jakob Morales.

The Buccaneers missed a chance on the counter attack following the free kick, but made up for it shortly thereafter. Halfway through the 24th minute, a free kick was sent into the 18-yard box that bounced around until Phillip Jauch redirected the ball to his teammate with a controlled header. Olaf Kramer was the recipient of the headed pass and finished spectacularly with a bicycle kick into the left side of the netting, 1-0.

Christian Brothers did not let up after the breakthrough goal and took five shots within the next eight minutes of play. The attacking mindset paid off in the 33rd minute when the Buccaneers scored a brace. From near the halfway line, Daiki Ebihara lobbed a perfectly-placed pass to Harry Laing on a run. Without needing to take a touch, Laing struck the ball off the bounce with his left foot and sent a screamer into the bottom right corner, 2-0.

CBU managed to take 11 shots in the opening 45 minutes, with eight of those shots on target. Meanwhile, the Bucs held Ouachita Baptist to two shots, with only one on goal, by winning the midfield battle.

In just over 15 minutes into the second half, Christian Brothers added another two goals to its tally. The pair of scores came in quick succession in the 59th and 61st minutes. Gio Bernardini was the first to score in the second 45 minutes. He took advantage of a misplaced pass on the edge of the penalty area and slotted a shot into the bottom right corner of goal, 3-0.

Not long after Bernardini's opportune goal, CBU beautifully pieced together a successful attack on goal. Mattia De Carlo sent in a low cross from the left side of goal to a wide open Ebihara in front of the net. Ebihara curled a shot along the ground into the right side of the netting for a composed finish, 4-0.

After scoring a fourth goal, the Bucs switched their focus to preserving the shutout. They were able to finish the job by only allowing two shots from OBU in the remainder of the contest. One of those shots was blocked and the other missed wide left.

Christian Brothers is slated to play another non-conference contest this Saturday, Sept. 7 at Harding. The away fixture is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
 
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