LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding men's soccer team drew 3-3 with Asbury University in the first game of the 2023 JR Hoe Invitational on Friday night.

Both squads moved to 0-0-1 after the season-opening tilt.

TURNING POINT
The Golden Eagles fell behind early with AU scoring the first goal of the game on a penalty kick in the first minute. The lead did not last long as Ethan Eckert tied the name at 1-all just over three minutes later.

Spalding earned the home team's first lead of the game with a Jose Huerta strike in the 18th minute. It was the first collegiate goal of Huerta's career. Asbury answered back in with around 15 minutes left in the first half to tie the game yet again. The tie held going into intermission.

AU took the second lead of the game for the visiting team with a goal coming just 18 seconds into the second half. The Golden Eagles scored the final goal of the game thanks to a Jordan Finneran score assisted by Reece Sharp. It was the first goal for graduate transfer Finneran in an SU kit.

The game ended all knotted up at 3-3

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES

• Spalding outshot Asbury 12-10 overall while AU had the advantage in shots on target 7-6.
• Gavin O'Donley had four saves to lead the goalkeeping effort.
• A 5-3 advantage in corner kicks went the way of SU.
• The contest was the highest scoring effort for the Golden Eagles since a 3-0 win on October 15, 2022.

NEXT FOR SPALDING
Spalding returns to action Sunday at home at 7:30 p.m. to finish the JR Hoe Invitational. The Golden Eagles will face Hanover College.