Williamsburg, KY - The Cumberlands men's soccer team defeated Life University on Sunday by a score of 2-1 in Williamsburg. The win is the first of the season for the Patriots and also gives them a perfect 1-0 record in conference play. 

A season ago, Life was undefeated in conference play which earned them the title of Mid-South Conference regular season champions.  UC gave Life their first MSC regular season loss since October 28, 2018 when the Running Eagles fell to Lindsey Wilson 3-2 in OT.

Chipping in offensively for the Patriots were Alejandro Gonzalez and Luis Jara Encina who both recorded goals. Goaltender Akililu Zambataro made five saves in the win for UC including a flurry of stops within the dying seconds of regulation.
 
UC started off strong controlling both the time of possession and shots during the first half. The Patriots first scoring chance of the game came just four minutes into the contest when Hrannar Magnusson let the ball fly from the right edge of the 18-yard box. Life goalkeeper Fabian Pekruhl was forced to make a leaping save with his left hand. The save led to a Patriots corner kick but nothing came of it. 
 
Twenty-two minutes into the contest the Patriots struck. Gonzalez found the back of the net from the left side of the box. Gonzalez redirected a kick from Sergio Infantes Castell past Pekruhl to give UC a 1-0 lead. Joel Drewery also picked up an assist on the play as he hit Infantes Castell on a corner kick pass. The Patriots took the 1-0 lead into halftime. 
 
Life got on the board just three minutes into the second half. Zidane Bogle beat Zambataro from well outside the box to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Following twenty minutes of scoreless action, the Patriots regained the lead. With just sixteen minutes to go, Tommaso Ogliari tracked a loose ball down in the left corner of the Life end. Ogliari spotted Jara Encina cutting through the 6-yard box and made a beautiful cross. Jara Encina used his head to redirect the ball past an onlooking Pekruhl to give the Pats a 2-1 advantage.
 
Within the final five minutes of regulation, Life threatened but Zambataro shut the door to secure a 2-1 Patriots win. Cumberlands outshot the Running Eagles in the game 13-8 with eight UC shots hitting the target to six shots on net for Life.

UC will look for back-to-back wins as they travel to Campbellsville on February 21, for a 4:30 game versus the Tigers.  Live stats will be available here with a live stream here.
 
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