Little scores game-winning goal as Hawks ready for GLVC play with home victory

QUINCY — It’s a benefit for the Quincy University men’s soccer players to know they can rebound from unfortunate circumstances.

It’ll be easier on Hawks coach Mike Carpenter when they learn to not put themselves in precarious spots.

After back-to-back fouls just outside the penalty area led to Purdue Northwest’s game-tying goal Wednesday at Legends Stadium, Quincy responded. Macker Little scored in the 56th minute off a free kick to propel the Hawks to a 2-1 victory and a 2-1 record in non-conference games.

Junior midfielder Alsadiq Hasan gave the Hawks the lead in the eighth minute when Kyle Swanner played a free kick from the left wing toward the box and Hasan flicked a header into the far upper right corner for his first goal of the season.

The Pride tied the game in the 24th minute. A free kick from just outside the box on the right side was nearly cleared, but a foul at the top of the box resulted in an in-direct kick from 20 yards out. Purdue Northwest’s Ryan Moran touched it and Isaiah Nieves buried the shot into the left side of the goal.

A foul led to a restart for the Hawks just outside the box in the 56th minute. Cole Hayes ran onto the ball and past it, while Little followed behind and hammered a shot around the Pride’s wall and into the lower right corner of the goal.

It was Little’s first goal of the season.

Quincy outshot Purdue Northwest 14-10 overall and held an 11-4 edge in corner kicks.

The Hawks open Great Lakes Valley Conference play at home Sunday against Missouri S&T. The women are slated for a noon kickoff with the men starting at 2:30 p.m.