Coming off a 2-1 double overtime victory on Tuesday that topped a Reinhardt University (Ga.) team that just recently fell from the top-25 in the NAIA, the 11th ranked Bryan College Men’s Soccer team continued their extraordinary undefeated season on Thursday night with their second 0-0 draw against a top-10 team in the nation, 7th ranked Campbellsville University. Both the Lions and the Tigers press on with their near spotless records as Bryan moves to 12-0-3 overall and Campbellsville now sits at 10-0-2.
There was great effort exemplified on both the offensive and defensive ends of the pitch by two highly-skilled sides as the Tigers edged the Lions in shots 15-11, but was able to produce only one shot on goal to Bryan’s two.
Charlie Clarke led the Lions in total shots with four, while Jordan Dunstan and Jonathan Ricketts each produced two shots apiece. Bryan’s goalkeeper, Alex Horton, earned his 9th shutout of the season and secured one save in the process.
The stats were nearly identical heading into the overtime periods, leveled at 10 shots by each team, but the home team recorded five shots through both overtime periods to Bryan’s lone attempt. In the final overtime, the Tigers held the Lions to no looks and tallied four of their own in a last minute effort to outlast Bryan in the intense matchup.
An unfortunate foul by the Lions just outside of the box with under two minutes left to play allowed the Tigers one last opportunity to seal the game, but Bryan lined up an impassable wall that came away with the save, leading to a 0-0 final.
After finishing in a close decision with another highly regarded team in the country, Bryan’s Head Coach, Drew Courtney remarked, “I was really pleased with our depth tonight. A lot of guys got the start tonight that normally play different roles and did a good job for us. We created some really good goal scoring chances that we didn’t put away tonight. We have to give Campbellsville credit for their play and keeping us scoreless. I am not a fan of draws, but if you had told me at the start of the season that we would be undefeated with three contests to go while playing eight nationally ranked teams, I’d take it.”
Only three matches remain in the regular season for the Bryan Lions, and the school up first is fellow Appalachian Athletic Conference foe, Point University (Ga.), who the Lions host this Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2pm. On Wednesday of next week, Oct. 26, AAC opponent Montreat College (N.C.) travels to Dayton, Tenn. to battle Bryan at 7pm. The final matchup is next Saturday, Oct. 29, at home when conference school, 25th ranked Tennessee Wesleyan University, tries their shot at Bryan at 2pm.