The University of Pikeville men's soccer team got a big lift Wednesday afternoon from the triumphant return of freshman Juan Egas in a 4-3 victory over their guests from Salem International University.
The Bears improved their overall record to 4-7 and at the same time snapped a three-match losing streak. Salem falls to 5-3-1 for the season.
The Tigers got the ball rolling early when Karim Farhan scored unassisted in the second minute. Any fears of the game getting out of hand early for UPike were quickly alleviated in the sixth minute when Egas, in his first game back from an injury, received a pass from sophomore Ozzie Ruiz and knocked it into the back of the net to tie the game.
Ruiz scored a goal of his own in the 11th minute to break the stalemate and put UPike ahead 2-1.
The lead was short-lived, as Farhan came back for Salem International with another unassisted goal in the 21st minute. The sides looked destined to enter halftime all square until freshman Lekealem Nkengafac's pass found the right foot of classmate Atiba Baptiste, who knocked in UPike's third goal in the 41st minute.
SIU was able to keep the ball on UPike's side for much of the second half, totaling 11 shots to three for the Bears and an overall edge of 24-10. They were unable to get past UPike junior goalkeeper Sheldon Thomas until the 79th minute, when Dwayne Phidd scored a goal that looked like it would send the game to extra time.
Egas, however, was there to respond for the Bears by splitting two defenders and top-shelfing a goal in the 82nd minute. The Bears would go on to fend off several late challenges by the Tigers, finally winning when Phidd's last-second effort sailed over the crossbar as the buzzer sounded.
The Bears next outing will be Saturday at 6:00 p.m. when they take their home pitch against Campbellsville University.