Blackburn Makes it Three Straight with Victory over UHSP

ST. LOUIS, MO -- The Blackburn College Men's Soccer team won their third in a row by defeating University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Saturday afternoon 2-1 in nonconference action. 

The Beavers got the lead early with sophomore Grant Eugea scoring his third goal of the season in the ninth minute. A free kick in the BC defensive area allowed the team to get the ball upfield, and sophomore Cristian Cazares gathered possession of the ball and dribbled the ball upfield, attracting two UHSP defenders. Cazares slipped the ball between the defenders to Eugea for a 1 on 1 against the goalkeeper. Using his left foot, Eugea slipped the ball under the sliding keeper into the bottom right corner of the net to give Blackburn a 1-0 advantage. 

The hosts managed to tie the game in the 74th minute but the Beavers answered to take back the lead. Eugea took a corner kick and placed the ball into the box where freshman Abner Portillo beat his defender to the ball and placed the ball into the upper left side of the net for his first of the year. 

Blackburn outshot the Eutectics 21 to 11, led by Eugea and freshman Nathan Soto who both had four. Freshman Adrian Castillo added three while senior AJ Blanco and sophomore Fredy Paiz chipped in with two each. 

With the win, the Beavers improve to 3-1 on the year. The team returns to campus and will next take on regional power Illinois Wesleyan University in the team's first home match of the year Wednesday afternoon.