Lions face barrage of shots in loss to Patriots

September 22, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — Freed-Hardeman University men's soccer took to the pitch against the (15) University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots. In the Mid-South Conference opener, the Patriots put up 27 shots, and while Omer Shifris notched his season high in saves, the Lions dropped the contest 4-0. 

Freed-Hardeman (4-2-0, 0-1-0 MSC) were on their heels the entire match, only getting one shot off in the first half while their guests fired off 14 in the first frame. 

The Patriots (4-2-1, 1-0-0 MSC) got on the board at the 18-minute mark when a cross from the left side was one-timed into the net. The FHU defense held strong for the next 20 minutes until UC netted their second goal of the match after a hard kick from the arc found its target.

The Lions hoped to reverse fortunes in the second half when Shifris tallied a save within the first minute of the second half, but could not collect the rebound, which was tapped in by the Patriots' Stephen Appiah. A clearing attempt by FHU at 72:37 was blocked by a Cumberlands player who quickly footed it into the net to wrap up the scoring at 4-0.

Playing in their half of the pitch for nearly all 90 minutes, FHU was only able to get four shots in the match, none of which were on goal.

In the losing effort, Shifris kept out a season-high nine saves, one off of his career mark of 10.

Up Next

Freed-Hardeman will look to bounce back against the Bears of Pikeville (Ky.) University on Saturday, September 24, kicking off against their MSC foe at 1:00 p.m.

(Edited to reflect correct starting time for Pikeville match.)