Kangaroos Bounce Back To Down Rockhurst 3-1

Wednesday, October 24

Kansas City, Mo.

7:00 p.m. CT

Kansas City

Rockhurst

Kangaroos Bounce Back To Down Rockhurst 3-1

10/24/2007 10:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: UMKC Athletics

Kansas City, Mo. -- On a chilly Wednesday evening, the UMKC men's soccer team took on Rockhurst in a road match at Bourke Field. As the final regular season match for the host Hawks, it was senior night, but a senior for the Blue-and-Gold would have the decisive tally, as Kyle Perkins scored the game winner in the 43rd minute with the final scoreline ending 3-1 in UMKC's favor.

The game got off to a bit of a late start as the hosts honored seven seniors in a pre-game ceremony, and it looked to leave the Kangaroos a bit unsettled. Rockhurst had the better of the possession through the early stages of the game, but UMKC was able to keep the game scoreless.

In the 23rd minute, a turnover nearly led to an opening goal for UMKC, as Miguel Rodrigues found himself breaking in on goal, but his effort deflected through a crowd and was collected by the Rockhurst goalkeeper.

The hosts would open the scoring in the 25th minute, as Walter Moskop found himself open on the right side of midfield. His shot looked to be drifting wide left but curled inside the far post, fooling UMKC's Ken Cooper.

UMKC would equalize in the 27th minute, however, off the boot of Bryan Perez. Chris Markey fed a through ball to a streaking Stephen Mannino, looking for an open flick into the net. Mannino was well-covered but played the ball back to Perez who blasted a shot into a wide-open net.

The Kangaroos nearly added a second goal in the 33rd minute, as the Rockhurst defense struggled to clear the ball. The mishit clearance sliced high, falling tantalizingly at the top of the six-yard box, but the leaping Perkins was just inches below the outstretched arms of Chad Becker, Rockhurst's goalkeeper.

Rockhurst looked content to ride the half out, letting the Blue-and-Gold continue to press the attack, but the tactic would punish them in the 43rd minute.

The Hawks were whistled for a foul ten yards outside the penalty area, setting up a great opportunity for UMKC. John Bayron Sosa stepped to the kick confidently, chipping the ball over the wall to find a wide-open Perkins. Perkins nodded the ball effortlessly over the outstretched hands of Becker into the top left corner of the net.

In the 52nd minute, the Blue-and-Gold nearly capitalized on a spilled save from Rockhurst's goalkeeper. Sosa drilled a free kick under the wall from the top left corner of the penalty area that was bobbled by Becker, popping out to the top of the six-yard box. Markey tried to backheel it into the net but it went wide.

UMKC continued to press the attack, but Rockhurst was able to withstand the pressure, keeping the Kangaroos from finding the final piece of the puzzle.

In the 72nd minute, another header nearly put UMKC up by two. Again Sosa flighted a free kick in, this time crossing the box. Josh White soared over the crowd of defenders surrounding him, but his effort floated just over the crossbar.

The Kangaroos kept looking for a third goal much to the delight of the vocal UMKC contingent along the far sideline, but it wouldn't come until the 86th minute.

Rockhurst was whistled for a foul just outside the penalty area, with the Kangaroos taking advantage of a confused defensive unit for the Hawks. Perez poked the ball to the left to Richard Harris, who beat Becker to the far post.

With the win, UMKC moves to 6-5-3 on the season. Cooper was credited with four saves on the evening, while the Kangaroos recorded nine shots on goal. Rockhurst earned four corner kicks to three for UMKC, although the Hawks recorded three corners in the span of two minutes in the first half.

UMKC returns to action in The Summit League on Saturday, traveling to Tulsa, Okla. to take on Oral Roberts. The match is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.