By Jacob Deskins
Staff Writer
The Bryan College Men’s soccer team started their AAC postseason tournament with an upset win against Union College (Barbourville, Kentucky). The Lions won the game easily with the final score 7-2.
The first half the two teams seemed to be very evenly matched until the Bulldogs struck first with a goal in the 26th minute by sophomore forward Josh Arberry.
In the 37th minute the Lions struck back with a goal by sophomore midfielder Ryan Griswold.
Senior forward Daniel Branley added the go ahead goal as time expired in the first half to put the Lions up 2-1 entering the second half. The Lions had seven shots on goal in the first half while the Bulldogs only had two.
The Lions opened up the second half with two very quick goals one in the 46th minute by Branley his second of the game, and another one in the 48th minute by freshman midfielder Kevin Roenpage to take a 4-1 lead.
Sophomore midfielder Andre Scott scored in the 50th minute to bring the Bulldogs within two of the Lions, but the Bulldogs efforts were just not enough as the Lions would add three more goals to defeat the Bulldogs 7-2.
Branley finished the game with four goals, increasing his season total to 14.
“Our guys really fought hard, and it was a big confidence booster to go into their place and beat them the way we did.” Branley said after the win.
Senior goalkeeper Josh Oldroyd said, “I am extremely proud of the guys they showed great effort throughout the whole game and we just wanted it more than they did and it showed in the end.”
Union College was the third seed in the tournament and Bryan was sixth seed. The Union Bulldogs ended their season with a record of 13-6 while the Lions improved to a record of 9-7-2.
The Lions will move on to face the number two seed in the tournament, St. Andrews University (Laurinburg, North Carolina) on Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. at Reinhardt University (Waleska, Georgia)
