MARYVILLE – A late goal from Averett in the second half kept Maryville from picking up the victory, as the Scots and the Cougars played to an exciting 2-2 draw on Day 2 of the Maryville Fall Classic.
Because of Maryville's 2-0 victory in Friday's game, compared to Averett's 1-0 win, the Scots were named the winners of the 2023 Maryville Fall Classic.
"You win your own tournament, because we had the points to be declared the winner, you've got an undefeated streak of six games – you take that and you move on," said head coach
Pepe Fernandez. "There were a lot of kids who played so bravely and battled in there. It could have been four or five goals for us and four or five goals for them. You take it and learn from it."
Down 2-1 in the 86th minute, Averett's Daniel Starr scored the heartbreaker and tied the match up 2-2, where it would remain through the end of the contest. The goal was Starr's second of the match, scoring his first in the 63rd minute of play.
The Scots were in charge throughout the first half, scoring both of their goals in the first 45 minutes.
MC started with a bang, as
Hyatt MacDonald scored his team-high fifth goal of the season in just the fourth minute.
Craig McIlwraith recorded the assist on the goal.
MacDonald's goal came on a breakaway, with McIlwraith carrying the ball into the box and then tapping a low pass to MacDonald who fired the ball into the back of the net to put the Scots up 1-0
Maryville scored again to start the second half, with
Aidan McWilliams scoring the first goal of his collegiate career in the 58th minute of play.
McWilliams fired a shot from 12 yards out that was saved by Cougars goalkeeper Anibal Lopez. McWilliams then got his own rebound and shot again, this time finding the back of the net to make it 2-0.
"When we were fresh at the beginning of each half, we were so good and pressuring them," Fernandez said. "And then they were able to take it to us at different times too."
Averett would score for the first time in the 63rd minute to make it 2-1 and then tied it up with just four minutes remaining in the game.
Coach Fernandez was happy with his team's performance and proud of how they overcame challenges to compete in today's match.
"It was a good match. Considering everything – the legs, the number of games we've played – there was a lot of mental and physical fatigue tonight."
Maryville is back at home Tuesday night for a matchup against Brevard before opening Collegiate Conference of the South play on the road against LaGrange on Saturday.
As the Scots begin conference play, they will have played just three home matches in the first nine contests of the season.
"We would have liked to have had more home games, but we really wanted a tough early season and to be battle-tested when we go into LaGrange, Belhaven and Covenant," Fernandez said. "We play three of the top four teams from last year on the road. We know that's going to be tough, and this will help a young team develop."
Kick off for Tuesday's match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
