In an early season exhibition match at Arrow Field, Mississippi Brilla FC hosted the Cajun Soccer Club from Lafayette, LA at Clinton High School Friday night.
Cajun SC got off to a hot start when, in the second minute, Brandon Briscoe ran onto a Martan Cheramie through ball, just beating Brilla ‘keeper Carl Blundell to the ball and slipping it past him into the Brilla net.
Brilla took just 18 minutes to level the score when Peter Okuchukwu polished off a Brian Vasquez cross in the 20th minute.
Vasquez added his own name to the scorers column when he slotted home a cross provided by Michael Durr after a lengthy run down the flank.
Cajun SC would tie the match again just before the halftime whistle when Austin Clause was left forgotten behind the Brilla defense. He made no mistake and slid his shot past Blundell in the 45th minute. He was assisted by Seth Gary.
Brilla made several half-time substitutions that would change the complexion of the match, but it would turn into missed chance after missed chance. Brilla took eleven shots in the second half while Cajun SC managed zero. Most of those Brilla shots were either saved by Cajun SC goalkeeper Kevin Elston, or they missed the target altogether.
However, in the 79th minute, Logan Mendez found Lucas Almedia in the penalty area. Almeida made room to shoot and smashed his shot past Elston to put Mississippi up 3-2.
Brilla tried and failed to extend the lead in the last few minutes, but Cajun SC were determined not to concede another.
Brilla captain, Dustin Ashley, who sat out tonight’s match while nursing a minor injury, said, “It was a great effort from everyone involved tonight. A result is a result. We are still unbeaten, but tomorrow, we go back to work.”
Brilla will host Mid-South Division opponents Laredo Heat in a weekend double-header. The teams will play Thursday, June 4 and Saturday, June 6 at Clinton High School. Both matches will kick off at 7:00 PM.