SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Stokes McConnell scored twice in the second half, including the game-winner with 10 minutes to play, helping Sewanee overcome an early deficit in a 2-1 win against Millsaps College in men's soccer action Sunday in Jackson, Miss.
The Tigers (9-1-3, 1-0-1 SAA) trailed after a goal by the Majors in the 14
th minute, the only shot of the first half for the home team. Sewanee created several good scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes, but two of those opportunities were saved and another hit the crossbar.
The Tigers broke through early in the second period when
Isaac Rasheed picked off an errant pass and was tackled just inside the right corner of the box.
Stokes McConnell converted the penalty kick, equalizing the match just over five minutes into the half.
Sewanee continued pressing forward and controlled the run of play for most of the match.
Alpha Bah's shot in the 66
th minute was saved by Millsaps goalkeeper Michael Hamauei and
Brady Lloyd got a chance five minutes later that was also turned away by Hamauei.
All of the pressure finally led to the game-winner in the 80
th minute and it started again with Rasheed, who fought for a ball down the rightside and passed forward to
Noah Bjorkman. He beat one defender and slotted a ball to Bah in the middle, who kept it moving to the rightside. McConnell's shot ricocheted off a Millsaps defender and into the net, the sixth goal of the year for the junior.
Sewanee outshot the Majors, 13-3, in the match overall and Hamauei made four saves for Millsaps.
Nathan Vanhoeve collected one save for the Tigers.
The Majors scored eight minutes into the opening half, with Braden Walters and Christian Lopez passing down the left side to Ellis Dykes. He was all alone and powered a shot off the hands of Vanhoeve from a bad angle into the net for an early advantage for the home team.
The Tigers created chances soon after, with Rasheed's shot from the top of the box saved in the 14
th minute and a shot from distance by
Domenic Desmond a minute later was also saved.
Thomas McGowan's shot down the left side was blocked in the 33
rd minute and
Jonah Cooker hit the crossbar in the 40
th minute. After a free kick in the final minute of the period, McGowan's shot from the top of the box sailed high and Sewanee trailed at the half despite controlling possession for much of the period and outshooting Millsaps, 6-1.
Sewanee plays next Saturday at Southwestern University at 1 p.m., the seventh of eight consecutive road outings for the Tigers.
