Lookout Mountain, GA- The Covenant College men's soccer team hosted Emory University last Wednesday in an NCAA Division III showdown. Having lost 3-0 in their away match to the Emory Eagles last year, the Scots were hoping to exact some revenge this year on their own home turf. And, for a majority of the game, it appeared as if the team was going to do just that, controlling the play and getting behind the Emory defense on multiple occasions. However, an unlucky deflection goal from Emory's Michael Scannapieco in the latter part of the second half saw the Scots fall behind 1-0. Covenant continued to press, though, with Julian Allgeier sending a shot inches wide after captain David Nielson had put him through on a breakaway. David Pifer also saw his shot blaze wide in the dying moments before the final seconds ticked off the clock. The loss put the Scots at a 3-3-1 record, and meant they would have to beat Methodist University on Saturday to return to the winning side of things. Wednesday's match also marked the first time the Scots have failed to score a goal in a game this season.
Fayetteville, NC- Saturday saw the Scots squared up against yet another NCAA Division III opponent in Methodist College. The Methodist Monarchs entered the game with a 3-6 record and a hope that they could snatch a win from the visiting Scots, but Covenant had other plans. Within the first five minutes, junior David Pifer latched onto a loose ball in the box and played it beneath Methodist goalkeeper Kyle Beach to an awaiting Julian Allgeier, who tapped in from close range. The goal was Allgeier's tenth of the season, and put the Scots up 1-0. It was a score that would stand until the 37th minute when David Pifer would finish a chance of his own after some neat combination play with fellow junior Brian Stair. Covenant goalkeeper John Eger and the Scots' defensive back line of Ben Wagner, Hunt Davidson, Jackson Slagle, and Scott Schindler limited Methodist to zero shots on goal, and even got involved in the offensive side of things as senior defender Scott Schindler scored the Scot's final goal in the second half. Sophomore Todd Fleming was credited with the assist after finding his way behind the Monarch back line and playing the ball across the goalmouth for the onrushing Schindler to score his first career goal for Covenant College. With the game ending 3-0 in the Scot's favor, Covenant now finds itself with a 4-3-1 record, and will travel to play rivals Bryan College this Wednesday.
