Hawks in tough predicament following tie with Panthers

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Mathematically, the Quincy University men’s soccer team remains in contention for a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

Realistically, climbing into the No. 8 spot in the league standings is going to be a challenge.

It may take some intervention from the league office just to have a chance.

Friday’s 2-2 double-overtime draw at Drury only inched the Hawks slightly closer to eighth-ranked Lindenwood in the points system used to decide the tourney participants. The Lions currently have 20 points, while the Hawks have 15. Both teams are scheduled to play what was supposed to be the regular-season finale Sunday, but the Hawks have a makeup game they could ask the league to help get played.

Last Sunday’s game against William Jewell was rained out at halftime, and the Cardinals balked at making it up prior to the final weekend. Should it be played, the Hawks have the opportunity to earn six points with a pair of victories, which could allow them to leapfrog the Lions.

First, Quincy (6-6-3, 4-5-3 GLVC) needs to beat Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo., on Sunday and Lindenwood has to lose to Southern Indiana.

It won’t be easy for the Hawks with two starters suspended.

Senior center back Spencer Van Nest and senior forward Cole Hayes each received a red card in the 77th minute for their involvement in an on-field altercation.

With the game tied at 2, the Hawks’ Aubrey Reis and the Panthers’ Sebastian Smeed collided on a tackle. Reis stayed down, grabbing his ankle as the whistle was blown, while Van Nest kicked the ball at Smeed and then shoved Smeed in the back. A fracas ensued with Hayes charging from his forward position to get involved in the fray.

The Panthers’ Joshua Lewis-Evans and Smeed both received red cards as well.

The teams played nine-on-nine for the final 13 minutes of regulation and both 10-minute overtime periods.

The Hawks twice had the lead, only to surrender an equalizer both times. Jack Rhead scored in the 34th minute to give Quincy the 1-0 edge, but Drury needed just 45 seconds to answer. Hayes made it 2-1 with his goal off an Alsadiq Hasan assist in the 65th minute. Drury tied it six minutes later.