Aug. 30, 2009
KIRKSVILLE – Junior Bobby Larkin put the Truman men’s soccer team on the board just four minutes in, while a lock-down defense held Missouri-St. Louis without a single attempt on net in a 2-0 shutout of UMSL on Sunday afternoon.
Larkin’s goal came on a header at the 3:44 mark of the first half off a cross from senior Ben Green, before freshman forward Andy Chapman notched his first collegiate goal in the 68th minute for insurance on a three-hopper that skipped over the shoulder of Triton goalkeeper Tim Boruff.
Redshirt freshman Tyler Knierim made his first start in net for Truman and posted an easy shutout, as his back line forced all of UMSL’s five shots to go wide or high. The Bulldogs accomplished the feat last season as well, holding Maryville (Mo.) to zero shots on goal in a 5-0 win in October 2008.
Truman (1-1), meanwhile, took 19 shots and put five on target, while also accumulating six corner kicks to just one for UMSL (0-1).
The Bulldogs will pack their bags for the entire month of September, as the squad will play their next seven matches away from the Truman pitch. The trek begins next Saturday and Sunday at the Quincy Classic, where the ’Dogs will face Christian Brothers (Tenn.) and the host Hawks during the two-day event.