Lyons tames Bethel with three goals in Cumberland win

Nov. 4—MCKENZIE — Hitting the road for their final game of the season Tuesday, Cumberland's men were playing for a chance to host in the quarterfinals of the Mid-South Conference tournament.

Putting his best foot forward, Robbie Lyons took charge and delivered a hat trick en route to a 3-1 win over the No. 13 ranked Wildcats of Bethel University.

Both Bethel and Cumberland have been fortresses in the back, maintaining two of the nations top defenses over the length of the season. In between the sticks, the Phoenix's Jack McCarthy and the Wildcats' Norberto Lima Vieira both have multiple MSC Defensive Player of the Week honors to their name.

In his first game back from suspension, Marcos Perez made his presence well known, ensuring there would be no goalless draw like there was in his previous appearance against Lindsey Wilson. Dancing down the right wing, he drew in an extra defender and that left Robbie Lyons with only a single defender on his back.

Receiving the ball on his preferred left foot, he calmly slotted the ball in the back of the net with a single touch to double the Phoenix lead.

Driving down the right wing yet again, Perez found a nearly identical pass to his first, meeting a wide-open Lyons. Completing the assist, Lyons doubled his goal tally for the year in just 27 minutes of action.

Second half action began, while Lyons had never stopped. Thomas Groenhilder delivered a free kick from just inside the corner flag, which Lyons climbed the ladder and headed the ball past the whole Bethel defense, completing his first hat trick as a Phoenix.

It would not have been Halloween night without some scare though, as the Wildcats clawed their way back.

Just three minutes after Lyons scored his third, Bethel answered with a goal of their own to cut the lead down to two.

Jack McCarthy had to stay busy in goal, making all three of his saves in the second half. Bethel continued to surge, though their efforts would be in vain as the Phoenix held strong and only allowed one more shot on goal after losing their shutout.

Through regulation Cumberland was outshot and faced more corners, but Robbie Lyons was a clinician in front of goal and allowed no room for error from the home side.

The game also featured nine yellow cards, with the Wildcats being charged with the lion's share of them, sitting at seven cautions compared to the Phoenix's two.

With the victory, Cumberland finished its regular season as the No. 3 seed in the Mid-South Conference tournament, meaning the Phoenix hosted their opponent, in this case Freed-Hardeman, in the quarterfinals yesterday at Lindsey Donnell Stadium.

First-half CU goals end with draw in McKenzie; Phoenix women earn No. 3 seed in MSC TournamentMCKENZIE — Cumberland's women ended the regular soccer season with a 2-2 draw against a very good side in Bethel at Wildcat Stadium on Tuesday.

The Phoenix ended the regular season with a 12-1-3 record and a 3-1-2 Mid-South Conference record. They hosted the No. 6 seed Georgetown yesterday at Lindsey Donnell Stadium.

The first 35 minutes were back and forth with both teams fighting for an advantage. Finally in the 37th minute, Elle Carson punched it in for a goal and a lead for the Wildcats.

However, the lead was short-lived as Cumberland answered in the same minute to tie the match at 1-1. Grace Morris played a perfect ball over the top to Gabby Jones and she slotted it past the keeper for the equalizer.

Two minutes after that, Miku Kayama fired a rocket from 30-plus yards from the net to push the Phoenix to a 2-1 lead at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half, Cumberland was called for a foul outside of the box. Bethel's Kalina Stanisic took the free kick and put it toward the back post before it deflected off a Phoenix and into the net for the goal.

From that point on both teams jockeyed for the game-winner. With both teams firing shots each keeper was up to the task holding things at bay for the 2-2 draw.

Brenda Cernas hit the crossbar in the 88th minute for the best chance for the Phoenix to get the win.

Cumberland fired off 12 shots in the game with seven on goal, only to be outdone by Bethel. The Wildcats finished with 13 shots and nine shots on goal.

Phoenix keeper Sabrina Graziano made seven saves in the match while Wildcats keeper Alicia Perex recorded five saves.

Coyne earns MSC men's soccer Champions of Character honorBOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Cumberland's Cathal Coyne has been named to the 2023 Mid-South Conference men's soccer Champions of Character team, conference officials announced Wednesday.

The MSC recognizes a Champions of Character Team for each championship sport.

The student-athletes that are honored on the Champions of Character Team were nominated by their coaches based on their leadership on campus and in the community while demonstrating the five core character values of the NAIA.

Bethel's (Tenn.) Alvin Oguta, Campbellsville's (Ky.) Marc Boye, Cumberlands' (Ky.) Brandon Diaz, Freed-Hardeman's (Tenn.) Tristan Hogan, Georgetown's (Ky.) Luca Perrin and Lindsey Wilson's (Ky.) Michael Acquah were also honored with the recognition.

This is the second time that Coyne has earned the distinction.