Box Score
Matt Moore returned to the Bruins lineup in a big way on Thursday night and scored a pair of goals. Unfortunately, the team struggled to contain the Truett-McConnell squad as the team lost 5-3 at Alumni Stadium. 

 

"I don't think we came out as a team really wanting this game," Coach Jesse McCormick said. "That hurt us because they were a good team and they took care of business on the field. We weren't really clicking as a unit for 90 minutes." 

The Bruins entered the game having won four of their last five games including a big 3-0 conference win over Columbia International University on Tuesday night. Truett-McConnell College entered with a 7-4-3 record, having lost three of their last four games. 

The Bears came out strong in the opening minutes and used their speed of play to begin to establish possession and pace. It didn't take long for the Bears to strike as Josiah Saydee re-directed a ball in the 8th minute of play just past Bruins keeper Andrew Kester to put Truett-McConnell up 1-0. The Bears added another goal a few minutes later as Penzi Kokama found space just outside the 18 and bent a beautiful shot into the lower portion of the net to put the Bears up 2-0. 

The Bruins were back on their heels, but the team regrouped and began to claw their way back into the game. In the 27th minute, great combination play up front for the Bruins freed up Matt Moore, who buried the shot to cut into the lead 2-1. The Bruins had several chances throughout the remainder of the half, but the Bears were able to turn each shot aside as the half ended 2-1. 

"We have to be mentally tougher for these matches," Coach McCormick said. "Even if we are a little fatigued we need to make sure we are mentally strong in these matches." 

As the 2nd half began, the Bruins looked to even things up and began to pressure the Bears net with opportunities. The team suffered a mental mistake in the 65th minute as AJ Redlinger committed a foul inside the box to give the Bears a penalty kick. Josh Bargary confidently took the penalty and fired it past Kester to put the Bears up 3-1. The Bears wouldn't settle, and scored again just five minutes later to extend their lead 4-1.

The Bruins had their backs against the wall, but began to slowly work the ball up the field for good looks. The team broke into the lead in the 85th minute as AJ Redlinger curved a ball into the net with a beautiful shot to cut the lead 4-2. The Bears quickly put a silence to the Bruins rally as they scored in the 86th minute to capture the lead 5-2. Matt Moore came right back with a goal of his own to make it 5-3, but in the end the rally came just too late as the Bruins fell to Truett-McConnell College 5-3.  

"God's blessed us with a great group of guys this year but we can't come in complacent," Coach McCormick said. "We have got to show up to play every single match and we have to do the little details well."

Matt Moore scored two goals for the Bruins and had one assist while AJ Redlinger had one goal. The Bruins fall to 9-5 on the season and were outshot 19-14 in the match. Next up, the Bruins will welcome Chowan University on Saturday night for homecoming at Bob Jones University.