Sophomore forward Melo Mensah notched the game-winning goal in the 54th minute last Thursday as the Tritons knocked off Central Methodist 4-2 and gave Coach Josh Alderson his first victory. (Photo courtesy of Luke Rinne/UMSL Athletics)
Men’s Soccer
The University of Missouri–St. Louis men’s soccer team gave first-year Coach Josh Alderson his first victory when they knocked off Central Methodist 4-2 on Thursday at Davis Field in Fayette, Missouri. The Tritons’ Devin Livingstone scored twice 19 seconds apart in the fifth minute against the Eagles, who hadn’t lost at home in exactly four years and came into the match ranked No. 12 nationally in NAIA. But UMSL needed another push in the second half after Central Methodist fought back to tie it. Melo Mensah‘s unassisted goal in the 54th minute put the Tritons back in the lead, and Ty Gordon added an insurance goal in the 78th minute. UMSL (1-0-1) will continue its opening five-game road trip on Friday as it opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play against William Jewell in Liberty, Missouri.
Women’s Soccer
The Tritons played Ohio Dominican to a scoreless draw on Thursday before losing to No. 18 Cedarville 2-1 on Saturday as they wrapped up a season-opening four-game homestand at Don Dallas Soccer Field. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Rylee Griffith needed to come up with a save against Ohio Dominican’s Alex Garver in the final minute to preserve her first career shutout. Griffith didn’t fare as well against Cedarville on Saturday, yielding two goals roughly seven minutes apart in the second half. UMSL did get a penalty kick goal from Emily Bloomfield in between, but the Tritons couldn’t must another goal after Tiffany Campbell scored to put Cedarville ahead 2-1 in the 70th minute. UMSL will begin a three-game road trip on Friday as it takes on William Jewell in its GLVC opener in Liberty, Missouri.
Volleyball
The eighth-ranked UMSL volleyball team improved to 8-0 to open the season after sweeping through the Flagler Saints Classic in St. Augustine, Florida. The Tritons recorded three-set victories against Embry-Riddle, Flagler and Converse. Missouri Southern State did manage to take the opening set off UMSL 25-17 in Saturday’s second match, but Coach Ryan Young’s team won the next three sets 25-20, 25-17, 25-16 to remain unbeaten. Lexie Rang led the Tritons with 60 kills in the four matches, and redshirt senior Delaney Humm added 48 kills. Caitlin Bishop led the team in assists, averaging 40.3 in the four matches. UMSL will play four matches this week in the McKendree Bearcat Classic at the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon, Illinois. It will take on No. 25 Harding and Maryville on Friday before meeting Illinois Springfield and tournament host McKendree on Saturday.
Men’s Golf
Freshman Dani Solavera led the Tritons to a tie for second in the season-opening Arch Cup, a 36-hole single-day event held last Tuesday at Gateway National Golf Course in Madison, Illinois. Solaverra posted a scored of 141, including a scored of 68 in the second round as he finished in a third-place tie individually. He helped UMSL’s first team post a combined score of 578 in the tournament. Sophomore Andy Hennen finished in a four-way tie for fifth place to pace UMSL’s second team tie for 10th place with a score of 607. McKendree won the team title with a total of 577, and Missouri S&T’s Jeppe Thybo claimed medalist honors by posting a score of 137. The Tritons will play their first two-day tournament of the fall season when they travel to Indianapolis for the UIndy Fall Invitational held Sept. 25-26 at Broadmoor Country Club.
