UMO flushes No. 22-ranked Queens, 3-1

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 8, 2014 1:50 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Bleeding from a season-opening loss, No. 22-ranked Queens University of Charlotte -- for at least for one half -- continued its mastery of the University of Mount Olive men's soccer team on Sunday afternoon.

The Trojans flushed the Royals in the second half.

Sean Lockett delivered the game-deciding penalty kick with 18-plus minutes remaining and UMO eventually walked away with a 3-1 victory at Amon Field. The Trojans defeated Queens for the first time since 2005 and just the second time overall since 1998.

The Royals lead the series 19-2-1 during that span.

UMO entered with the intention of taking away the passing lanes, double-teaming quickly on the ball and forcing Queens to play long on the pitch. The scheme would allow the Trojans (2-0-0 overall) to capitalize on their speed and height in the back, and create chances on goal.

It didn't work ... at first.

Queens (0-2-0) struck barely 10 minutes into the game when Luis Campos connected on an 18-yard shot that deflected off of a defender.

"Their goal came based off of the passing game ... (us) not respecting what they were able to do after they scored," fourth-year UMO head coach Godfrey Miller said. "We realized we had to tighten it up, so we went back to what we had practiced and it worked pretty well."

Play became chippy from that point as Queens attempted to established it had the better side. The Royals went a man down the final eight minutes of the half, and the action became more physical as the game progressed.

The teams combined for 55 total fouls and 10 yellow cards.

Despite the aggressive tone, UMO kept its poise and collected the equalizing goal in the 59th minute. Kevin Williams Lopez's chip from the left side of the 18-yard box got past Queens keeper Montrell Morgan and Cooper Gaypia tucked it away.

Barely 13 minutes later, Lockett converted the PK.

"I was fairly comfortable stepping up for that," Lockett said. "(I had) not a clue (about the keeper), kept my eye on the ball, knew where it was going, so I never looked up."

Bright Eto sealed the outcome in the 84th minute.

The Trojans owned the advantage in shots (15-8) and corner kicks (3-0). UMO keeper Nick Bernsdorf logged four saves and improved to 2-0 between the pipes this season.

Miller lauded his team's ability to move the ball from different points on the field and make the defense chase the ball, which created a gap in the middle. That permitted Cooper to utilize his strength and speed.

"It worked well for us," Miller said.