Martano and Morales save the day as Eutectics draw even with Mission

CREVE COEUR, MO – Ball control was of the utmost importance on Tuesday afternoon as the Eutectics and Mission Patriots played to a 1-1 draw. With a constant wind upwards of 30mph blowing across the field, keeping the ball on the ground was a priority and anything in the air was going to be a guessing game. In just the second-ever game between the two conference foes, UHSP remained unbeaten against the Patriots.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 1, MISSION 1

• Andrey Smolin opened the scoring with his third of the season in the 33^rd minute to put the visitors up 1-0.  Austin Miller pushed a ball ahead to Smolin in the right side of the box. Smolin was able to push a low ball past UHSP keeper Christian Morales.
• The Patriots were most aggressive on offense in the first half and outshooting the Eutectics, 9-4.
• The Patriots were looking for their first win of the season, but UHSP pulled even in the 56^th minute. Tanner Tolan delivered a pass to Mohammed Alkenani who was able to send one past the Mission netminder Jordon Shaw to tie the game at 1-1.
• It was a physical game that saw UHSP take five yellow cards while the Patriots were issued three. The Eutectics leading scorer Owen Rogers was issued a caution in the first half and just 13:37 into the second half would be issued his second yellow card resulting in his ejection from the game. The Eutectics played a man-down the remainder of the contest.
• Morales made the save of the game with 21:48 left in the contest. Austin Miller delivered a beautiful through-ball to a streaking Smolin who had broken open between a pair of UHSP defenders. The pass to Smolin was in-stride and just feet away from Morales, Smolin left-footed a shot on target. Morales dove to his right and was able to get a hand on the shot and deflect it over the cage. It was another highlight-reel save from the AMC's saves leader.
• A key moment came 24:55 into the second half when Smolin, bidding for his second goal of the goal, hit the post with a shot. The rebound came out to Shon Guzman who had a tremendous look with Morales out of the net. Guzman's shot was stopped by a sprawling Pietro Martano who stopped a point-blank shot and kept the game 1-1.
• Mission outshot UHSP 18-10 with half of both clubs' shots being on net.
• Morales (1-11-1) played all 90 minutes in net for UHSP and made seven saves.
• Shaw (0-4-1) made four saves in the game for Mission.

NEXT UP:

It will be back-to-back road games on deck for UHSP (1-13-1, 0-3-1) as they play a non-conference match on Thursday at Webster (6-6-1, 4-2 SLIAC) at 6:00p. Then their final AMC road game at Harris-Stowe next Tuesday, October 28.