Box Score
It was a beautiful crisp September evening as the Bob Jones University Bruins welcomed the Point University Skyhawks to Alumni Stadium on Friday night. The Bruins were riding a two-game winning streak in which they outscored their opponents 9-1. Much of the reason for their success is in the stellar play of forward Matt Moore who had 5 goals and 1 assist coming into Friday night's match. The Bruins most recent win came in a 5-0 shutout of Toccoa Falls College on Thursday night. The Point University Skyhawks entered the match with a 3-5 record after suffering a 2-0 loss to Bryan College on Wednesday night. 

As the game began, the Bruins picked up right where they left off the last two matches and controlled possession throughout the opening minutes. The offense was spreading the Skyhawk defense out wide and able to generate open looks for their forwards. Less than 5 minutes into the game, Matt Moore got ahead of the defense and sent a beautiful crossing pass into the center for Vince Wilson who scored to put the Bruins up 1-0 early. 

The Bruins continued to keep the pressure on as the team had only 6 shots in the first half, but each was precise and right on target. In the 27th minute, Stephen Lovelace broke into the scoring column with a low shot past the goalkeeper to put the Bruins up 2-0. As the half concluded, the Bruins were in the driver's seat with a 2-0 lead. 

"Even though we have played three games this week our guys came out with a lot of energy and showed great fitness," Coach Jesse McCormick said. "We were able to just keep that energy and generate a lot of quality opportunities on net." 

In the second half, the Bruins continued to control possession and kept the Skyhawk attack away from the net. In the 67th minute, Skyhawks forward Philip Pressgrove capitalized on a Bruins defensive turnover to send a low shot past goalie Joe Wooster to make the score 2-1. Less than four minutes later, Pressgrove struck again off a beautiful header and the game was back even at 2-2. "Our energy level dropped a little in the second half," Coach McCormick said. "Even though we made a couple mistakes on defense which cost a couple of goals we told the guys to keep pushing and generating good looks." 

The two teams went back and forth with both trying desperately to gain the advantage. Several Bruins attempts flew just wide as midfielder Ryan McCarty had several great chances inside the box. The buzzer sounded ending regulation time at 2-2. "We stressed to our guys that there was no need panic," Coach McCormick said. "We had generated a lot of great looks on net late in the second half and we knew we needed to stay calm and keep generating those good looks." 

As the first extra time period began, both teams played cautious. Both wanting to get that golden goal, but also not wanting to yield it. In the 96th minute, the Bruins had a great run into the box as Matt Moore sent a cross that was received by Eric Moisant who fired a low shot on goal that was deflected out and rebounded by Matt Moore for the 3-2 overtime win. The Bruins players rushed the field as they had won their third straight game.

Matt Moore led the way for the Bruins with the game-winning goal and two assists on the night. Tonight gave Moore 6 goals and 3 assists in the last week. "I guess it is all the Chick-Fil-A I am eating in between classes," Moore said jokingly. "This game just came down to who wanted it more. When they scored those two goals our energy level went down. Soccer is really a game of who wants it more and you can't be lazy but have to have high intensity the entire game."

The Bruins have won three straight games as their record stands at 3-2. The Bruins will have a few days to rest and recover before they travel to Montreat College on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. afternoon match with the Cavaliers.