LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University men's soccer collected its fifth-straight victory on Sunday afternoon behind a 2-0 win over Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Rockhurst at Leemon Field. With the win, McKendree improved to 6-2-3 on the season while also owning a six-match unbeaten streak.
The Bearcats and Hawks battled throughout the first half for possession and control of the match which fell to McKendree late in the first 45 minutes. McKendree owned the advantage in multiple categories by slight margins with six corners, 12 shots, and eight shots on goal compared to the Hawks four corners, 11 shots, and six on frame shots. The Bearcats too control of the match in the latter part of the first half with two goals in a six-minute span.
McKendree's first goal came in the 37th minute after a high-flying ball floated around the opposing goal keeper which senior forward
James Stone collected and put past the keeper. The goal was Stone's eighth score of the season and third game-winner. His eight goals on the season leads the GLVC.
Just under five minutes later, the Bearcats struck again behind a header from junior defender
Cole Gerstenberger (42') who gathered a pass from sophomore defender
Matteo Schubert. It marked the insurance goal for McKendree while being Gerstenberger's second score of the fall and Schubert's second assist.
Senior goalkeeper
Alvaro Cortazar recorded his third clean sheet of the season with the shutout victory over Rockhurst. Cortazar recorded six saves and lowered his goals allowed average to 1.32 over the 11 games of the year so far. He has recorded full-time in the goal this season for McKendree (1088.50 minutes).
McKendree still is down in the all-time series with the victory (3-6-1) but has won two of the last three and is unbeaten over the last three matchups.
NOTES:
McKendree won its fifth-straight match with the victory over Rockhurst and extended its unbeaten streak to six games. The streak dates back to Septmeber 24 versus Quincy.
Senior forward
James Stone (Eastbourne, England) sent in te first score of the afternoon for McKendree, marking his third game-winner and eighth goal of the season.
Junior defender
Cole Gerstenberger (Farmington, Missouri) fired his second score of the fall and provided the insurance goal for the Bearcats. Gerstenberger's goal was assisted on by sophomore defender
Matteo Schubert (Salzaburg, Austria), it was his second assist of the year.
Senior keeper
Alvaro Cortazar (Asuncion, Paraguay) collected his third clean sheet of the season with the win. He recorded six saves in the match and his third shut out.
UP NEXT:
McKendree men's soccer is back on the pitch at Missouri S&T on October 15 in Rolla, Missouri.
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