Maryville – Maryville opened its 2024 season with a bang, outlasting a tough Berry squad 2-1 in a weather-shortened match here at the MC Soccer Complex.
It took just over four hours from start to finish, stopping for nearly an hour and a half as lightning struck with six minutes remaining at halftime. The game was called later in the 78th, as another weather delay pulled the teams off the field once again.
Because the match had passed the 70-minute minimum that the NCAA requires for an official contest, the score and stats stand, and Maryville improved to 1-0-0 to begin the new season.
On top of the lengthy lightning delays, the game also featured a 10-minute "heat break" halfway through the first half, as temperatures sat in the high 90s, with the heat index reaching as high as 108 degrees.
It was a slow first half for both teams, with the Vikings tallying four shots to the Scots' two in the first 45 minutes. Neither team was able to put the ball in the net, and the game went to the second half all knotted up at 0-0.
Maryville broke through first in the second half, with senior
Jorge Graniel scoring the first goal of the season in the 57th minute. Graniel tapped in a quick pass in the box from
Craig McIlwraith. McIlwraith, who finished second in the Collegiate Conference of the South with eight assists, picked up right where he left off, recording the first assist of the 2024 season.
The senior midfielder also scored his first goal of the season in the 69th minute. After a 68th-minute goal from Berry's Tracy Moon, McIlwraith put his team back ahead quickly, firing a free kick from the top of the box right past the Viking's goalkeeper for what proved to be the game-winning point.
Maryville returns to action Tuesday for a midweek matchup against former league-foe Berea in Kentucky. Berea, who joined the Heartland Conference over the summer, defeated MC 2-1 in 2023, as members of the CCS.
Kickoff for Tuesday's match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
