INDIANAPOLIS – Isaac Valverde's goal in the 86th minute gave the University of Missouri-St. Louis men's soccer team a thrilling 3-2 win over UIndy at Key Stadium in Indianapolis on Friday evening. The Tritons improve to 4-3-5, 3-2-4 GLVC, while the Greyhounds drop to 7-3-3, 5-3-2 GLVC.
It was UMSL's first win over UIndy since a 2-1 victory at Key Stadium on Oct. 14, 2016.
The Tritons struck first in the 29
th minute when
Melo Mensah picked off a pass and forced Greyhounds goalkeeper Joey Schrand to come off his line. Mensah slotted a pass back to
Max Matarelli, making a trailing run, who snuck the ball into the near post to give the Tritons a 1-0 lead.
The Greyhounds answered in the 35
th minute when August Abrahamsen danced across the top of the box and snuck his shot into the near post to even the score.
Pablo Nodar got the lead back for the Tritons in the 53
rd minute. Matarelli laid the ball off at the top of the box where Nodar took a step before sneaking the ball under Schrand's arm and into the near post netting to make it 2-1.
Lucas Bedleg evened the score in the 80
th minute off a rebound that bounced his way and Bedleg fired it into the top right corner.
Valverde put his game-winning shot into the top center of the goal after Mensah laid the ball back to him at the top of the 18-yard box. It is Valverde's first collegiate goal.
UMSL was outshot in the contest 17-8 including 7-5 in shots on goal.
Jack Franklin made five saves in goal for his third win of the season.
The Tritons wrap up their road trip this Sunday against Lewis at 2:30 p.m. at Lewis Stadium in Romeoville, Ill.