Any hope the UHA boys’ soccer team had of picking up a win over Murray in the 1st Region All ‘A’ Classic on Saturday evaporated with only six minutes played and the match knotted at 1-1.
A straight red card left the Blazers to fend off the Tigers with only ten players for the remaining 74 minutes, and Murray took full advantage in a 4-1 victory at the Mallory France Soccer Complex.
Murray started quickly when Kameron Murphy finished off an assist from Max Rosa in only the 2nd minute. Blazer goalkeeper Quinton Quarles was injured on the play and wouldn’t return until the second half.
However, the Blazers waited only three minutes to answer, earning a penalty kick when Ethan Hale broke into the box and was taken down from behind by a Murray defender.
Tiger goalkeeper Hank Fronza saved Hale’s initial effort from the spot, but he was first to react and tucked away the rebound to tie the game.
That would be the end of any good news for the Blazers after they went down a man just ninety seconds later. The Tigers didn’t need long to take advantage, with Rosa burying a half-volley to double the Murray advantage in the 28th minute.
UHA defended and looked for counter-attack opportunities for the next twelve minutes and were still within striking distance at 2-1 at the break. But things went from bad to worse in the final minutes of the half when defender Lane Bennett was injured and could not return.
Murray added an insurance goal in the 45th minute on Rosa’s second strike of the night off an assist from Jimmy Kjellberg, and Collier Crouch capped the scoring when he cleaned up a loose ball in the Blazer box to make it 4-1.
For Murray, Fronza made a pair of saves, and Kerrick Pierson was called into action once after coming on for the second half.
University Heights slips to 5-5 with a trip to Lyon County scheduled for Thursday.
