Moises Drumond propels Bluegrass Bandits to 3-2 win over Indiana Invaders

(Lexington, Ky.)- With a blistering left-footed shot with seven minutes remaining in the second half, Moises Drumond (Ontario, Canada) provided the game-winning goal for the Bluegrass Bandits soccer team on Saturday night during a 3-2 victory over the visiting Indiana Invaders (4-6) at Lexington Catholic High School.

The Bandits (3-6) were coming off a three-week, six-game road trip, but looked much more comfortable playing at the friendly confines of Joseph K. Ford Stadium. The Lexington club spotted the Invaders a two-goal lead in the first half, before storming back for the win in a game plagued with fouls and physical play.

Two defensive miscues by the Bandits led to both Indiana goals. Forward Drew Roff pounced on a loose ball and found himself one-on-one with Bandits’ goalkeeper Derek Orf (Cumberland College). Roff beat Orf to the lower left side of the goal for a 1-0 lead at the 29:40 mark.

Nearly 11 minutes later, another giveaway in the midfield left Indiana’s Erick Braun all alone. Braun’s point blank shot got by Orf again to the lower left side for the 2-0 lead.

The Invaders were in control for much of the first half, but the Bandits began to settle down late in the first half. Drumond just missed scoring twice within the final four minutes of the half. Then with 1:52 remaining, forward Scott Deopere (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) got loose up front, made a move to his left on an Indiana defender, and then back to his right, before beating Invader goalkeeper Fred Denton to the lower right side.

Still riding the momentum of Deopere’s goal late in the first half, the Bandits quickly tied the game at 2-2 early in the second. With under a minute gone in the second half, forward Jay Flynn (Centre College) worked his way up the right side and lifted a cross to Deopere, who was waiting to finish on the play at the far post. Deopere ended the game with a goal and an assist.

The Bandits dominated the offensive play for the rest of the second half, but it wasn’t until the 7:26 mark that the Lexington club broke the tie. After settling a nice cross from Billy Wick on the far left side of the Invaders’ goal, Deopere made a quick pass back to the top of the 18-yard box, where Drumond launched his game-winning shot past goalkeeper Denton.

Deopere was one of many Bandits’ players pleased to be playing at home this week. He said, "I was really sick of bus trips and hotel rooms. It’s really nice to be back at home. Coach (Tim) Turney really got us fired up at halftime. He told us we needed to be more aggressive, and that we were the more talented team."

The Bandits certainly answered the bell in the second half. Assistant Coach Turney was the man at the top on Saturday, because Head Coach Rob Miller was out of town. Turney’s halftime moves may have been the difference.

Turney said, "I just told the team to play with some pride. We moved Wendell (Collymore) back to the middle (of the defense) and made sure that (midfielder) Nick Donaldson got more touches. The team really responded and outplayed Indiana in the second half."

The Bandits will next host the Dayton Gems on Friday, June 30, beginning at 8 p.m., followed by another home game on Saturday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m. against the Kalamazoo Kingdom. Prior to Saturday’s match, the Bandits will host their second in a series of five instructional soccer clinics for children ages 6-14. The clinics are free and will begin at 5 p.m.

GAME BOX SCORE FROM JUNE 24:

Indiana Invaders 2 0- 2
Bluegrass Bandits 1 2- 3
Goals: Indiana (1^st-29:40) Drew Roff; Indiana (1^st-18:48) Erick Braun; Bandits (1^st-1:52) Scott Deopere (assist-Drumond); Bandits (2^nd-44:15) Moises Drumond (assist Jay Flynn); Bandits (2^nd-7:26) Drumond (assist-Deopere, Billy Wick); Goalkeepers: (Bandits) Derek Orf, (Indiana) Fred Denton; Records: Bandits 3-6, Invaders 4-5.

REMAINING BANDITS’ HOME SCHEDULE AND CLINICS
Friday, July 7 WEST MICHIGAN EDGE 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 8 MID MICHIGAN BUCKS* 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 15 WEST MICHIGAN EDGE* 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 29 ALABAMA SAINTS* 7:30 p.m.
*Denotes pre-game soccer clinic, beginning at 5:00 p.m.