Spartanburg, S.C. –The King University men's soccer team showed grit and determination in its regular season finale on Saturday, but an early Converse lead proved too much to overcome as the Tornado dropped a 2-1 decision at Hayden Abney Fulp Field at Weisiger Stadium.
First Half Â
Converse scored twice in the opening 45 minutes. Jesper Schierholz and Jacob Bandel each found the back of the net, with Guilherme Fontes and Hendrik Brauch contributing to the attack. King goalkeeper
Gavin Roux kept the Tornado within striking distance, making three saves before halftime.
Second Half
King regrouped after the break and began to generate more chances. The breakthrough came in the 69th minute when
Cian McGoey scored off an assist from defender
Jake Moriarty, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Tornado pressed for an equalizer, recording four second-half shots and forcing Converse goalkeeper Harry O'Brien into two saves, but the Valkyries' defense held firm.
Key Performances
- Cian McGoey – Scored King's lone goal, sparking the second-half push.
- Jake Moriarty – Provided the assist on McGoey's strike while anchoring the back line for 90 minutes.
- Gavin Roux – Collected three saves in the first half, keeping King in contention.
- Alejo Angel – Took over in net for the second half, holding Converse scoreless.
By the Numbers
- Shots: King 6 | Converse 10
- Shots on Goal: King 3 | Converse 5
- Corners: King 1 | Converse 8
- Fouls: King 13 | Converse 17
- Attendance: 226
Closing Notes
The Tornado showed resilience in their final regular season outing, battling back after a two-goal deficit and nearly leveling the match in the closing stages. With contributions from veterans and underclassmen alike, King heads into the postseason with momentum and belief in their ability to compete against the league's best.
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