LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Maryville went on the road Wednesday night and defeated CCS foe Covenant 2-1 to take home the Highland Cup. MC improved to 4-5-4 and 1-2-1 in the CCS while Covenant now sits at 6-5-3 and 2-2 in league play.
"This team has now had a chance to win three trophies, and we have won all three," Maryville head coach
Pepe Fernandez said. "We won the Centre tournament, we won our own tournament, and tonight we won the Highland Cup which is the competition between Maryville and Covenant each season."
Maryville took the lead early in the match, scoring its first goal in just the third minute. It was
Craig McIlwraith who found the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
Jorge Graniel recorded an assist on the goal.
Before long MC pulled ahead 2-0 as
Will Gallaher scored the first goal of his collegiate career in the 26th minute. Once again, Graniel picked up an assist on the play. This marks the first multi-assist game of his career.
Covenant got one back late in the second half, with Blake Myers scoring on a loose ball in the box in the 83rd minute.
Covenant outshot Maryville 22-6, including a 17-1 deficit in the second half.
Mykal Manfred held it down for MC in goal though, making eight saves and securing the win for Maryville.
"Mykal was an all-American back there in goal tonight," Fernandez said. "Especially because we had some illnesses and were short on the defensive end tonight."
Maryville returns home Saturday for a CCS matchup against Piedmont at the MC Soccer Complex. Kick off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
