By: John Kean, Sports Information Director
Box Score ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T's men's soccer team got back to the .500 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play Sunday afternoon, winning a hard-fought contest over the University of Indianapolis by a count of 1-0 at the S&T Soccer Field.
Peter Vaccaro (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West )'s goal at the 56:02 mark proved to be all that the Miners needed to get their second win in conference play, but it didn't come without a couple of close calls in the final minute of play.
The Greyhounds, in a desperate attempt to tie the game as time was winding down, got two golden opportunities in the final 60 seconds. First, Reiko Trott had a point-blank shot turned aside by S&T goalkeeper
Donny Gesell (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles West) as he tried to beat him to his right.
Moments later, after the Greyhounds got a corner as a result of the Gesell save, Corey Nelson had a shot that sailed wide of the net, which turned out to the be the final chance UIndy got in the contest.
The game was scoreless at halftime, but the Miners broke the ice with Vaccaro's goal just over 11 minutes into the second half.
Kyle Schraier (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers College ) played a ball ahead to Vaccaro, who went one-on-one with goalkeeper Andrew Verhonik and beat him to his left to put S&T in front.
Vaccaro missed a chance at a second goal later in the game, as he had an open shot from the top of the penalty go over the net with a little under 16 minutes remaining.
The Greyhounds (2-5, 1-3 GLVC) outshot the Miners 21-20 in the game, but S&T had more shots on goal by an 11-5 margin. Gesell had four saves in the game and the Miner defense also turned away a shot at the goal line, while Verhonik finished with 10 saves for UIndy.
Missouri S&T, 3-2-1 overall and 2-2 in GLVC play, will return to action Friday when it faces No. 14-ranked Quincy in a 7:30 p.m. game in Quincy, Ill.