2009 Men's Soccer

HENDERSON, Tenn. - Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College took an early lead, then held off the Freed-Hardeman Lions, 3-1, on Monday night at the Josh Riley Soccer Complex.

The RedHawks, who received votes in the latest NAIA national poll, struck first in the 10th minute when Tiago Reichert got behind the Lion defense and passed the ball to a streaking Renato Castro, who beat FHU keeper Alexandre Girodo to the right post to give Martin Methodist a lead it would not relinquish.

FHU (7-3, 0-2) had a pair of excellent chances in the first half by Ryan Engineer, but both times MMC keeper James Colman made impressive diving saves to keep the ball out of the net.

The RedHawks added to their lead 10 minutes into the second half when Fernando Barbeiro headed in a cross that rebounded off the chest of Girodo to go ahead 2-0.  

The Lions looked to be set to pull within one goal in the 69th minute when Simbarashe Zvaita was taken down in the box while attempting a shot and was given a penalty kick.  But Colman again came up big for Martin Methodist and made a diving save of the PK.  Freed-Hardeman eventually got the goal back in the 73rd minute after Archibold Marowa sent in a long cross to Zvaita, who beat Colman one-on-one to the right post.

The hopes of a FHU comeback were dashed in the 84th minute when Martin Methodist added another goal on an Andrew Gordon header from a Fernando Andrade cross.

The RedHawks had a 20-13 shot advantage in the match.  Eight of FHU's shots were on goal compared to 10 for MMC.

The Lions return to action against Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University on Friday night in Nashville.