Box Score In a match marked by early goals and late-game chaos, Midway University secured a 2-1 victory over IU Columbus on Saturday, October 5. The loss drops IU Columbus to 4-6-2 and 0-2-1 in the conference.
Midway wasted no time asserting themselves, with Henry Alvor breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute. The goal came against the run of play, as IU Columbus had been pressing early, outshooting Midway 6-1 in the opening stages.
Just three minutes later, Alvor turned provider, setting up Anwar Perry for Midway's second goal. The quick one-two punch left IU Columbus reeling, down 2-0 with barely a quarter of the game gone.
Despite the setback, IU Columbus refused to roll over. Led by the dynamic duo of Jon Michael Bright and Angel Roque, who each fired three shots on goal, the home team pressed forward relentlessly. However, Midway's goalkeeper Connor Vincent stood tall, making four crucial saves in the first half to preserve the lead.
The second half brought renewed determination for IU Columbus. Their persistence finally paid off in the 69th minute when Gideon Adegbeminiyi, assisted by Bryce Dolenc, scored to narrow the gap to 2-1.
As the clock ticked down, tensions began to mount. The match, which had already seen several yellow cards, took a dramatic turn in the 87th minute. Midway's Jacob Pollak received his second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal from the game.
What followed was a chaotic final few minutes. In quick succession, IU Columbus' Cyuzuzo Ndayambaje and goalkeeper Jacob Kasarda also saw red, reducing the home team to just eight players on the field. Despite being severely undermanned, IU Columbus fought valiantly until the final whistle but couldn't find the equalizer.
The statistics tell a story of a closely fought match. IU Columbus outshot Midway 16 to 14, with both teams putting 11 shots on target. The home team also held an advantage in corner kicks, 6 to 3. However, Midway's early goals and goalkeeper Vincent's impressive 10-save performance proved decisive.
The Crimson will look to regroup for their next match, Thursday, October 10th.
