Sean Lockett's penalty kick in the 72nd minute broke a 1-1 tie and Bright Eto added an insurance goal in the 84th minute as University of Mount Olive defeated nationally 22nd-ranked Queens 3-1 in non-conference men's soccer Sunday at Amon Field. Cooper Gaypia scored the tying goal in the 59th minute as the Trojans rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit.
Mount Olive (2-0-0) played with a man advantage for the entire second half after a Queens player picked up his second yellow card late in the first half. Queens amassed seven of the 11 cards that were issued, while Mount Olive was whistled for 32 of the combined 55 fouls in the match.
The Trojans got on the scoreboard when Kevin Williams Lopez's chip from the left side of the box got past the Royals' keeper and Gaypia put home the equalizer from just above the right post. Caypia had a second goal nullified by an offside flag.
Mount Olive capitalized on a foul in the box at the 71:16 mark as Lockett's pk put the Trojans ahead to stay. Eto iced the match with a goal from the top of the box after Queens goalkeeper Montrell Morgan deflected Edrisa Chune's shot.
The Trojans outshot the Royals 15-8 for the match, including a 7-2 advantage in the first half despite falling behind early. Queens (0-2-0) opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Luis Campos' 20-yard shot deflected off of a Trojan defender and into the upper 90.
Trojan goalkeeper Nick Bernsdorf finished with four saves, while Morgan had seven saves.
Sunday's win was Mount Olive's first over the Royals since 2005, ending an eight-match losing skid. In Mount Olive's season opener Thursday, the Trojans ended a five-match losing skid against UNC Pembroke.
Mount Olive is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2009.
"I think we may have surprised some people this weekend," said Trojan head coach Godfrey Miller.
Mount Olive concludes its season-opening three-match homestand Wednesday as the Trojans play host to former Conference Carolinas member Coker in non-conference action. Match time is 7 p.m. at Amon Field.
