UC Closes Out Regular Season With Dominating Win Over UPike

By Press release submission

Oct 31, 2022

#23 Cumberlands men's soccer returned home for the first time in five games and put on a show for the UC fans. The team beat Pikeville in every statistical category including goals, winning 5-0.

The Pats had four different goal scorers with Rodrigo Riveros netting a brace, Tommaso Ogliari scoring his first of the season, and goals from Hrannar Magnusson along with Stephen Appiah.

Cumberlands came out of the gate flying, firing off four shots before they finally broke through in the 16th minute. UC was awarded a free kick on the outside of the box, close to the left corner. Storm Hollensted lobbed the ball to Joachim Blomsterberg, who headed it off the crossbar. The ball ricocheted so quickly and with Riveros' back to goal his only option was a bicycle kick. Riveros perfectly timed his jump, powering the ball into the back of the net, to open the scoring at 1-0.

Despite UC having 16 shots in the first half, they could not muster up any more in the net, keeping the game at 1-0 into the break.

Cumberlands once again started the half pouring on the offense, scoring this time on their sixth shot of the half. At the 62', UC turned defense into offense taking the ball away from the Bears at midfield and quickly got on the counter. Shuma Sasaki carried the ball into the middle of the pitch and had Ogliari run into the box with pace. Sasaki slotted the ball to Ogliari, lacing the ball into the top netting on his second touch to put the Pats up 2-0.

The third goal for UC came just two minutes later, this time from a penalty kick from a hand ball by UPike. Appiah stepped up to the mark to take the penalty. He stutter stepped up, throwing off the timing of the Bears' goalkeeper enough to put the ball past him on the left side.

The next goal that Cumberlands scored had a similar build up as the second, but this time on the right side of the field in the 66th minute. Magnusson laid the ball off to Hollensted, who quickly passed the ball up to Riveros. Between the two passes, Magnusson kept his run going towards the box and Riveros passed the ball back. Magnusson powered the ball into the top of the netting just six yards out to push the lead up to 4-0.

The final goal gave Riveros the brace and gave UC the most goals they have scored in a single game this season. In the 75', Appiah won the ball in middle of the field and immediately broke towards the goal. The ball from Appiah was played perfectly to Riveros who cut past a defender before the sliding the ball into the right side of the goal.

The 5-0 win marks the seventh shutout of the season for UC. Pablo Vazquez earned the win in goal, not making any saves, but facilitating chances to his teammates. The Pats had 32 shots with 15 on goal, both season highs.

UC will now wait to see where they finish in the Mid-South Conference standings to determine their seeding for the MSC Tournament. The Patriots end the regular season with a 9-4-3 overall record and 6-2-2 MSC record.