sendobry
Mathew Kirby
1
Findlay UF (0-1)
2
Winner Quincy QU (1-0)
Findlay UF
(0-1)
1
Final
2
Quincy QU
(1-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Findlay UF 0 1 1
Quincy QU 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Brendan Bittner

#3 Hawks Open Season With 2-1 Win Over Findlay

QUINCY, Ill. – The third-ranked Quincy University men's soccer team opened the season on Saturday (Sept. 5) night at Legends Stadium with an in-region, 2-1 win over visiting Findlay in the QU Alumni Cup presented by Green Light National.
 
The Hawks (1-0), coming off a run to the national semifinal a year ago, stepped off on the right foot as they look to return to the postseason in 2015. A nonconference in-region win will help that cause as the Hawks were lifted by a pair of transfer newcomers making their QU debuts Saturday.
 
Sophomore wing David Geerling (St. Louis, Mo./CBC/St. Louis University) and redshirt-sophomore center back Conner Sendobry (St. Louis, Mo./CBC/UW-Green Bay) scored the goals for the Hawks, who out-shot the Oilers (0-1), 10-5, in the game.
 
The Hawks maintained much of the possession with the Oilers playing with as many as 11 players behind the ball to clog up QU's attacking lanes.
 
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute as Geerling bolted on a perfectly-timed run onto a ball over the top from junior Taylor Reis (Quincy, Ill./QND/Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy). Geerling, in a one-on-one breakaway with the keeper, neatly slotted it in the net for his first goal.
 
The Hawks kept up their pressure, but the Oilers defense remained organized through the end of the half. Findlay did not attempt a shot in the first 45 minutes.
 
Quincy had an opportunity to double the lead in the 57th minute, but junior Xhovani Dokaj (St. Louis, Mo./CBC) could not connect cleanly on a bouncing ball during a scramble in front of net. The ball was ultimately cleared off the line by Findlay's back line.
 
As the second half wore on, the Oilers became more dangerous on the counter-attack. They attempted their first shot of the game in the 63rd minute and broke through in the 66th minute as Mark Sleasman weaved through the QU defense on a solo run and slotted the ball past sophomore keeper Nate Griffin (St. Louis, Mo./CBC) to equalize at 1-1.
 
The Hawks showed a quick response to regain the lead. Redshirt-freshman Scott Prsha (St. Louis, Mo./Eureka) earned a corner kick for the Hawks on the end line. Dokaj sent in the corner and Sendobry rose over everyone and buried his header to give Quincy a 2-1 lead.
 
The Hawks still had work to do as the Oilers looked to threaten on the counter-attack, but the Griffin and the Quincy defense saw the game out.
 
The Oilers had just two shots on goal with Griffin making one save. His counterpart, Ben Richter, stopped one shot, while the back line came up with two team saves. Quincy had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Hawks will now take on Lindenwood on Sunday (Sept. 6) at 7:30 p.m. at Legends Stadium. The winner will be the Quincy University Alumni Cup champion. A draw would give the title to Lindenwood on goal difference. The Lions (1-0) defeated Drury (0-1) in Saturday's opener, 4-2.
 
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