In their opening match of the NCCAA Division II National Championship Tournament, Spurgeon College fell to Boyce College 5-3 in an action-packed contest at Austin-Tindall Stadium in Kissimmee, FL, on November 18, 2024.
Game Flow
Despite finding themselves in an early hole when Boyce struck first at 2:29, the Knights showed resilience throughout the match. Sage Ballard quickly answered with an equalizer at 6:23, assisted by Eduard Mangalagiu. After falling behind again, Caleb Hawkins leveled the score at 2-2 with an assist from Ballard at 28:56.
However, Boyce managed to pull away with two late first-half goals, taking a 4-2 lead into the break. Jack Downey brought the Knights within striking distance with a goal at 76:55 off an assist from Rylen Ballard, but a late penalty kick sealed the win for Boyce.
Offensive Highlights
Several Knights contributed to the scoring effort:
Key Statistics
Despite the loss, the Knights showed fight throughout:
- 11 total shots (5 on target)
- 7 saves by goalkeeper Gabriel Farenzena
- 41% possession
- Strong defensive effort against 27 Boyce shots
Looking Ahead
The Knights return to action on November 20 against Barclay College as pool play continues. With two games remaining in the tournament, Spurgeon College looks to bounce back and make their mark in their remaining matches.
Stay tuned for updates as the Knights continue their national tournament journey in Florida.
