Photo by JBU Staff

Siloam Springs, Ark. – The Central Christian College men's soccer team were back on the pitch on Friday evening, playing a rare neutral site game, against the University of Jamestown Jimmies. The Tigers traveled to Siloam Springs, Arkansas to take on the Jimmies who were 1-2 on the year coming into Friday's game and were coming off a 5-0 loss to John Brown University, a team the Tigers will see later this season, the night before.

In the opening half, the Tigers owned the majority of the ball possession, and created numerous attacking opportunities, especially through their defense, but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Fortunately, the defense kept a clean sheet through the first 45 minutes, and they went into halftime with the Jimmies, still knotted at zero.

In the second half, the Jimmies came out with a renewed vigor, and had the Tigers on their heel early on in the frame. In the 58^th minute, the Tigers' defense coughed up the ball just outside the 18 yard box, then committed a foul when the Jimmies took possession. The Jimmies capitalized on the Tigers' misfortune, and slotted the first goal of the game on the ensuing free kick.

Ten minutes later, the Tigers would get another chance, and this time they would not miss. Drew Schrader (Sr. McPherson, Kan.), played a ball to Johnny Rodriguez (Jr. Anaheim, Calif.) who found himself in behind the Jimmies' defense. He was able to slot the ball past the UJ goal keeper, giving the Tigers the equalizer.

Rodriguez would get another good look with under three minutes left in regulation, but the Jimmies' goal keeper made a sliding save to keep the score tied at one, where it would stay as the clock hit zero.

The Jimmies held the advantage in overall shots 13 to 9, but both teams were able to put seven on frame. Rodolfo Ramirez (Jr. Mission Viejo, Calif.) was in goal for the Tigers, and finished with six saves.

Coach Hoxie summed up Friday's game by saying, "Today was predictable. We knew the circumstances that surrounded it, the type of game that this would be, etc. I also made a promise to the players early on in the season, and I'm sticking to that, even though my feelings are saying to change everything. I'm not interested in Disney at the moment."

"Several positives to take away. We created many chances and half chances, that didn't go our way, obviously. What we are doing is working, and that's good. Third game this season where we came from behind to get some points out of the match, that is also good."

"I've got to get better at giving the guys a bit more at half time. Second game in a row where we struggled, and I need to get better."

The draw puts the Tigers at 2-0-1 on the season. They have a pair of home games this upcoming week with a couple of KCAC teams, both at home. They begin the week with Tabor College at 8:00 pm on Wednesday, then wrap up the week at 8:00 on Saturday against Kansas Wesleyan University.