Robert Boyd scored twice in the first half for his first two goals of the season and Cumberland held on for a 2-1 victory over Campbellsville University in men’s soccer action Tuesday at the CU Soccer Field.
The Bulldogs (3-2-1) have won two straight overall and remain unbeaten in their last three matches.
Cumberland took a lead in the 17th minute when Boyd finished a beautiful combination play from Bradley Williams to Harry Mason and then to Boyd, who softly booted the ball into a wide-open net. Williams beat a defender to a bouncing ball near the top of the 18, played it outside to the right to Mason, who carried it deeper into the box, drawer out the keeper and setting up Boyd for the easy score.
The second goal was a little fluky, with a throw from the left sideline by Nathan Gillespie sailing over everyone and bouncing onto the head of Boyd at the back post. The header sailed over Campbellsville keeper Aaron Steele’s head for a 2-0 advantage in the 34th minute.
The Bulldogs missed several chances to add to the lead early in the second half, missing on the final pass to a potential goal scorer. The Tigers (0-3-1) really turned up the pressure in the final 30 minutes, especially after CU keeper Matthew Shattuck left the match with an injury.
Casey Clarke scored unassisted for Campbellsville in the 72nd minute, beating Ian Hamilton with a hard shot from just outside the top of the box. Hamilton made two saves in the final 24 minutes in net for CU and knocked away several other dangerous crosses by the Tigers, who posted an 11-2 advantage in shots in the second period.
Cumberland hosts third-ranked University of Rio Grande at 3:30 p.m. on Friday before opening TranSouth Conference play on September 20 against 21st-ranked Bethel University.