MOUNT OLIVE (Sept. 25) – In a high-scoring affair on Wednesday night, the University of Mount Olive men's soccer team battled to a 3-3 draw against defending league champion Chowan in Conference Carolinas action at Amon Field.
With the draw, the Trojans stand at 1-3-1 overall behind a 0-1-1 mark in conference play. Mount Olive holds a 9-7-2 record in the series dating back to 2011 with the two sides being forced to a tie for the first time since 2021. Meanwhile, the Hawks move to 1-3-2 this season with a 0-2-1 record in league action.
In the first half, Chowan scored in the initial minutes of the match with Junior Smith registering a goal at the 7:09 mark. The Hawks nearly added to their lead in the 14th minute, but senior goalkeeper
Axel Engren delivered a save before the follow-up shot hit the post. At the 32:12 mark, the Trojans tied the contest at 1-1 with a header into the back of the net by junior
Jacques Sousa off a corner kick from fellow junior
Joao Barboza Filho. Just 26 seconds later, Mount Olive moved effectively into its offensive side before sophomore
Babacar Fall scored his team-leading third goal of the season with assists awarded to Barboza Filho and freshman
Kevin Jimenez. At the break, Chowan held a 6-4 edge in shots while UMO boasted a 2-1 lead in corner kicks.
The Hawks quickly tied the match at the 47:51 mark of the second half with a second goal from Smith. Chowan reclaimed its advantage in the 65th minute as Smith completed the hat trick off a corner kick to hold a 3-2 edge. The intensity picked up later in the half with three yellow cards being issued by the officials. UMO found the equalizing goal at the 80:49 mark as junior
Novian Williams peppered a goal into the right side of the goal from long range off an assist by senior
Greg Boko, 3-3.
Engren finished the match with three saves on 10 shots faced while playing all 90 minutes.
Chowan out-shot Mount Olive by a 10-9 margin while also holding a 6-2 lead in corner kicks.
The Trojans will travel to Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 28, to face King in Conference Carolinas action at 3:30 p.m.
