Jesse Riggs had a goal and an assist and the Covenant men's soccer team got back in the win column with a 3-1 victory over USA South foe Brevard in front of a packed Scotland Yard on Homecoming Saturday night.
Covenant remains undefeated in USA South play at 2-0 on the year and the Scots move to 5-2 overall. Brevard drops to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in league play.
Riggs was a catalyst for the Covenant offense on the night. The junior assisted on the eventual game-winner in the second half and then added an insurance goal late to seal the victory for the Scots.
Covenant struck first with a goal in the 17th minute.
Christopher Kitchen serviced the ball into the box where Carl Simakoff got behind a Brevard defender and finished his shot past Brevard keeper Patrick Hall for the score. The goal was Simakoff's third of the year, while it was Kitchen's second assist.
The Scots had a 16-6 edge in total shots in the first half, but clung to the 1-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Covenant went ahead 2-0 in the 57th minute. Riggs took a free kick from just beyond the box and his attempt ricocheted off the crossbar and right to Parker Owen, who headed the ball into the back of the net for the score. Owen's goal was his third of the year and Riggs was credited with the assist on the play.
Despite controlling the majority of the match, Covenant saw Brevard get back into the contest. The visiting Tornados sliced their deficit in half with a goal in the 73rd minute as Alex Tenjhay scored off a corner kick from Matheus Masukawa to make it 2-1.
However, Riggs and the Scots had the final say. Riggs worked around the box and a Brevard defender in the 89th minute before getting his shot past Hall to give Covenant a 3-1 lead in the waning moments of the match. The goal was Riggs' team-leading fourth of the year.
Covenant had a 27-11 advantage in shots, including 9-4 in shots on goal. Owen led Covenant with six shots, while Ethan Pettit took four.
Paul Lemay picked up his fifth win at the net for Covenant as he made three saves. Hall ended the night with six saves for the Tornados.
Covenant travels to face USA South foe Berea on Wednesday. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
The Covenant women's soccer team dropped its Homecoming match, 2-0, to visiting Transylvania on Saturday afternoon at Scotland Yard.
The loss, Covenant's first at home this season, drops the Lady Scots to 1-3-1 on the year. Transylvania, making its first appearance on Lookout Mountain, improves to 4-2 for the season.
The visiting Pioneers scored in the 20th minute and never looked back. Transy's Ashley Chindo slid a pass to Abby Baker near the six-yard box and Baker finished off the opportunity with a goal to put the Pioneers ahead 1-0.
Covenant would take four shots in the first half, all of which were on target, but came away empty and trailed by a one-goal margin at the break.
The Lady Scots had a few more chances in the second half, but it was Transy that found the back of the net. On a corner kick, Tori Nordin collected a deflection from Baker and scored from short range to make it 2-0.
Covenant would string together some opportunities late in the second half, but the Pioneers defense stood tall and preserved the shutout victory. Keepers Ally Barfield and Morgan Patton combined for the shutout for Transy. Barfield made four saves in the first half and Patton came on in the second to record a pair of saves.
Covenant keeper Rachel Lemay collected seven saves. Addy Cronan and Lizzy Hightower had two shots apiece for the Lady Scots
Covenant will travel to Mount Berry, Ga., to face Berry in a non-conference contest on Tuesday. Match time is set for 7 p.m.