Luke Strueby delivered a huge performance in goal Saturday (Oct. 3) night, making nine saves to lead Rockhurst to a 1-0 shutout victory over conference-leading Maryville at Bourke Field.
The Hawks improved to 4-4-3 overall and 3-2-3 in GLVC play while handing Maryville its first conference loss of the season. The Saints entered the night atop the league standings and fell to 8-3-1 overall and 6-1-1 in conference play.
After earning a corner kick in the ninth minute, Nick Marchetti sent the ball into the box, where Riley McGill converted from eight yards out to give the Hawks a 1-0 advantage at the 9:11 mark. It was McGill's third goal of the season and ultimately stood as the game-winner.
From there, the night belonged to Strueby and the Rockhurst defense.
Maryville began applying pressure almost immediately after the goal. Strueby made his first save in the 15th minute on Alex Smeins before turning away another attempt from Jose Vilela in the 24th minute. The Hawks took their 1-0 advantage into halftime despite Maryville holding a 7-1 advantage in shots.
Maryville fired 16 shots and earned eight corner kicks over the final 45 minutes, forcing Rockhurst to defend for long stretches. Strueby continued to answer every challenge. He stopped Petter Hanssen in the 64th minute as the Saints began to turn up the pressure.
The closing stretch turned into a showcase for the Rockhurst goalkeeper.
Strueby made back-to-back saves on Julian Stoecker and Yayo Mutombo in the 80th and 81st minutes before denying Leyson Losada in the 83rd. Less than two minutes later, Strueby was called upon again and stopped Vilela's attempt toward the bottom-right corner.
Strueby made another stop on Mutombo in the 86th minute before diving to his left moments later to deny Losada and preserve the one-goal advantage. The Rockhurst defense also came up with a team save just seven seconds later as the Saints desperately searched for an equalizer.
The Saints earned two more corner kicks inside the final two minutes, but the Hawks refused to break. Maryville's final attempt sailed wide with two seconds remaining, sealing the 1-0 Rockhurst victory.
Maryville finished with a 23-3 advantage in shots and a 12-2 edge in corner kicks, but Rockhurst made its chances count. The Saints placed 10 shots on goal and came away empty as Strueby finished with nine saves and his first shutout of the season. Seven of his nine saves came in the second half.
McGill provided the difference offensively with his third goal of the season, while Marchetti picked up the assist. Connor Gaarder recorded Rockhurst's other shot on goal in the 62nd minute.
Strueby's nine-save shutout highlighted a complete defensive effort from the Hawks, who held off one of the GLVC's top teams for all 90 minutes and picked up a statement conference victory under the lights at Bourke Field.
