CANTON, Mo. - It was a close, evenly matched contest throughout, but Culver-Stockton (1-0) scored once off a free kick while Avila (0-1) was unable to convert on a couple of quality chances, leading the Wildcats to a 1-0 win in both teams' 2023 season opener on Saturday night.  

This was by no means your typical 1-0 scoreline where the losing team was simply shut down for the entire game and never had much going. In fact, the Eagles played quite well, generated a couple of quality chances, and limited the number of quality chances by the opposition. Culver held a slight edge in shots and corners, but in a tight, physical game played by both sides, the game was ultimately decided by execution on a set piece: the Wildcats had it, and that was enough to win them the game.  

Goalkeeper Jonathan Fager saw a little action last season behind top keeper Naguib Nassir and is expected to assume the top spot this season. Well, he wasted no time staking his claim to that spot in 2023, reaching up to rob Ruben Reinertsen with both hands, keeping the ball from sailing under the crossbar in the game's first four minutes. Almost exactly a minute later, Fager struck again, making a bit more of a routine save off Martin Quijada to keep the Wildcats off the board.  

After weathering that very early storm, the Eagles ultimately created a couple of great chances of their own around the 24-minute mark. C-SC goalkeeper David Gavriliak was called for a foul and issued a yellow card for denying a scoring opportunity, giving Sam Kanda a chance with a free kick near the box, but the Eagle senior sailed his shot just high.  

And then only a few minutes later, those two players were fated to face off again. This time a foul was called in the box, and Kanda stepped up to the penalty spot for the Eagles. After a bit of a delay, Gavriliak matched Fager's strong save with one of his own, diving to the ground to keep out Kanda's low shot and keeping the game scoreless.  

Gavriliak then made a more routine save off Malcolm Goswell in the final minute of the half, and that was actually it for both goaltenders: neither was asked to make a save in the second period, but the Wildcats finally found their breakthrough about five minutes after the break when Reinertsen took advantage of a free kick on the edge of the box after a yellow card and cranked his shot into the top shelf to put Culver-Stockton in front. Avila prevented one more solid chance thanks to a sliding block from centerback Damon Young, and the rest of the Eagle defense combined to keep the Wildcats from putting any more shots on target following the opening goal.

Now trailing for the first time, the Eagles generated a handful of chances down the stretch of the second half, including a couple courtesy of Ismaiel Cisse on his Avila debut, but none of the Eagles' five second-half shots troubled Gavriliak, allowing the Wildcats to hold out for the 1-0 win. In addition to Cisse, both Thaddeus Chapman and Alex Roy made their Eagle debuts for head coach Robert Kelly in the defeat.  

The Eagles will have next to no turnaround time between their first and second games of the season: due to anticipated high temperatures in eastern Missouri on Sunday, Avila's game against Harris-Stowe will now kick off at 12:30 PM. Stay tuned to Avila's Men's Soccer and Avila Athletics on social media for updates on the Eagles all season long.