(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 3)—The McKendree College men’s soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to six games with a 3-2 victory Tuesday at home against Columbia College in a key American Midwest Conference match.

 

Three different players scored as the Bearcats built a 3-0 lead in the first 34 minutes of play and held off a late challenge from the Cougars. McKendree, which is 5-0-1 during its current streak, improves to 7-3-1 overall and 3-0-1 in AMC play. Columbia falls to 6-5-0 on the year and 1-2-0 in the league.

 

Junior midfielder Cole Harres (Belleville, Illinois/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) gave McKendree a 1-0 lead just 5:04 into the contest on a crossing pass from junior forward Jarius Holmes (O' Fallon, Ill./O' Fallon) (Shiloh, Ill./O’Fallon). The Bearcats then extended the margin to 3-0 with a pair of goals in a five-minute span. First, senior forward Nicolas Mosca (Buenos Aires, Argentina/San Luis Gonzaga) (Buenos Aires, Argentina) beat the Columbia defense and keeper on a long clearing pass from junior defender Craig Vigar (Southampton, Hampshire/Tauntons) (Southampton, England) in the 29^th minute.

 

Then at the 33:37 mark, freshman forward Matt Jannings (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) finished off a crossing pass from sophomore forward Eric Frierdich (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) to give McKendree a three-goal advantage. Columbia tallied a goal late in the half to pull within 3-1 at the intermission, then used an own-goal in the 76^th minute to cut its deficit to 3-2.

 

Junior Santiago Hampton (Buenos Aires, Argentina/St. George's) (Buenos Aires, Argentina) made seven saves in the contest, including six in the second half, to pick up his fifth victory of the season.

 

McKendree will return to action Friday with a non-conference match at home against Missouri Valley College. The contest will begin at 2 p.m.