NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The King University men’s soccer team made the long road trip to Nashville on Tuesday night to square off in a nonconference contest against Trevecca Nazarene. The Tornado were able to come away with a hard-fought 2-1 victory and are now riding a season-high four-game unbeaten streak and have won three consecutive matches.

Freshman midfielder Chris Hicks scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 72nd minute, taking advantage of a Trojan mistake on the back line. A defender slipped, giving Hicks the ball and a clear path to the goal. Hicks broke into the box and fired a shot from 12 yards away that found the left corner of the net, increasing the Tornado advantage to 2-0.

Moments earlier, fellow freshman midfielder Ryan Murphy broke a scoreless tie with a goal in the 66th minute, again capitalizing on a mistake from a mistake by homestanding Trevecca Nazarene. A defender was unable to clear a ball on the back line, which Murphy collected and tapped into the left corner of the goal from seven yards out.

Trevecca Nazarene was able to cut the deficit in half with a 76th minute goal from Jonathan Baskin. But the Trojans would get no closer, as the Tornado defense clamped down during the game’s final 14 minutes to allow just one shot the rest of the way.

The final statistics were practically even. King was outshot 9-8 and put three shots on frame compared to the Trojans’ five. But a major component of King’s victory was the stellar play of Tornado goalkeeper Kari Sveinsson, who made four saves and kept the Trojans at bay for much of the match.

The Tornado take their four-match unbeaten and three-match winning streaks into Saturday’s regular-season finale against Conference Carolinas foe Mount Olive, who currently sits in ninth place in the conference standings just outside of the eighth and final tournament berth. The Tornado could finish as high as fifth but are assured a spot in the Conference Carolinas Tournament regardless of this weekend’s results.

Saturday’s match against Mount Olive, which is King’s Senior Day, will kick off at 3:00 p.m.

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