CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – The Millsaps men's soccer team played hard in Arkansas following a 1-1draw against the University of the Ozarks on Friday and secured a 3-3 tie against Ecclesia College on Saturday.
Match 1: Millsaps 1, University of the Ozarks 1
Sophomore Ethan Pratt recorded his first collegiate goal scored for the Majors, while freshman Alden Romano and junior transfer Hogan Payne a shot on goal against the Eagles.
Freshman Ellis Dykes finished the match with four shot attemps and one shot on goal, while classmate Drew Mckeithen posted an assist to help Pratt score in the second half.
In the first half of the match, Millsaps almost had the hope of taking a 1-0 lead. A Payne kick toward the bottom center of the goal would be scooped up by the Eagles keeper on in the 21st minute of the match.
Only nine minutes later, the Majors would charge at the University of the Ozarks again with a kick by Romano to the bottom right, but was stopped with an Eagle save. Both teams would remain scoreless going into halftime.
In the second half of the match, the University of the Ozarks would take the lead following a goal scored in the 63rd minute.
As the second half continued, Pratt tallied his first collegiate goal for Millsaps with an assist by Mckeithen to tie the match in the 83rd minute.
Both teams would remain of the scoreboard for the remainder of the match. The Majors earned the draw, 1-1 on Friday night.
Match 2: Millsaps 3, Ecclesia College 3
The Millsaps men's soccer team would fight their way to a 3-3 tie against Ecclesia College the following day on Saturday.
Drew Mckeithen led the team with two goals scored and an assist, while Hogan Payne secured his third goal of the season.
Senior Kade Folse registered one shot on target and junior Ai Suzuki recorded three shot attempts and one shot on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Alden Davenport made his first collegiate start.
Ecclesia College started off on a rough start by creating two fouls as Folse would be stopped on a penalty kick in the third minute for the Majors.
At the 15th minute of the match, Payne would see his third collegiate goal of the season go behind the keeper to move the Majors ahead, 1-0. Mckeithen assisted on the opening goal off a corner kick.
However, 2 minutes and 29 seconds later Ecclesia College would draw the Majors even with a goal of their own.
As the match continued, the Royals saw another goal scored in the 28th minute to hold a 2-1 lead.
Millsaps not stepping down, tied the Royals back up in the 37th minute as McKeithen would secure his first collegiate goal for the Majors.
In the closing moments of the first half, Suzuki would just miss with a shot over the top left to send both opponents into halftime tied.
Going into the second half with seven minutes in, Suzuki would look to put the Majors ahead by eyeing a kick to the bottom left only to see a Royals goalkeeper save.
Continuing the second half, Ecclesia College would better the Majors on their third goal scored at the 82nd minute to take the lead, 3-2.
Showing resilience and less than two minutes later, Mckeithen would help the Majors battle back with his second goal of the match to force a 3-3 tie.
Wrapping up the match, Ecclesia College would post a yellow card and a shot as the contest concluded in a 3-3 draw.
The Majors will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 19 to face Tougaloo College, beginning at 7 p.m. with live video and live stats available at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the men's soccer program this year follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
