PIKEVILLE, Ky. – UPIKE men's soccer got back into the win column in resounding fashion on Friday night with a 3-0 win against Johnson University.

The Bears dominated the game both offensively and defensively, outshooting the Royals 26-3, and 13-1 in shots on target.

Coach Gary Warford before the match stressed applying pressure in the first ten minutes and the team responded with a goal in the ninth minute.

After six shots either went wide or were saved, Eric Bernabeu tightroped the end line and set a pass across the six-yard box to Aaron Aven who had an easy tap-in.

Less than 10 minutes later, Billy Quiteno almost went coast-to-coast, showing his ball-handling skills weaving past multiple defenders before putting the ball in the net.

UPIKE's final goal of the match came in the later stages of halftime after Bernabeu launched a breakaway chance and was taken down by the last defender to earn a penalty kick. Bernabeu used a strong stutter step move to throw the keeper off and send the kick lightly down the middle.

Pikeville went to a heavy dose of reserves in the second half, and although they didn't add to the lead, the pressure stayed on with 12 more shots.

UP NEXT

UPIKE goes back on the road next week, beginning with a MSC matchup at Cumberland (Tenn.) at 4:00 p.m. ET in Lebanon, Tenn.

-UPIKE-