Staff report
The Truett McConnell soccer teams are both off to a hot start this fall.
Last week, the TMU squad picked up an Appalachian Athletic Conference sweep with wins over Bryan College.
The Lady Bears, who are ranked No. 15 in the latest NAIA national poll, picked up a 6-1 win, while the men's team posted a 5-0 shutout over the Lions.
Lady Bears secured a dominating win against the Lions, moving to 7-0-1 on season with a perfect 5-0 start in conference play.
In the first half, TMU wasted no time asserting control as Isabella Hodson secured the first goal in the third minute off an assist from Evangelina Seidel for a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, Celiane Pereira doubled with a goal off another assist from Seidel to make it 2-0 heading to intermission.
The Lions briefly showed life early in the second half with their lone goal in the 47th minute.
Saige Peterson found the net in the 55th minute assisted by Hodson for a 3-1 lead. Hodson scored two more goals to complete her hat trick, and a late penalty kick goal from Pereira in the 81st minute capped off the game. The Lady Lions only had two shots in the match as keepers Danica Wittmann (one) and Bailee Blair combined on the win.
In the men's contest, picked up the shutout to improve to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in AAC matchups.
In the first half, the Bears got control of the game with a goal by Jovica Lazarevic, assisted by Marcos Martinez. An unassisted goal in the 32nd minute by Pablo Farrona pushed TMU's lead to 2-0 as the teams entered halftime.
The Bears found the back of the net in the second half as a foul by the Lions in the box gave Marco Mandelka a penalty kick scoring opportunity for a 3-0 lead. The two final goals came from Josh Oliver and Guillermo Peino, with Peino and Toby Berry picking up the assists.
TMU defense limited the Lions to eight shots with only two on goal in the stellar performance as keeper Brindley Euan recorded two saves in the shutout.