KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Eagles battled back and kept things close throughout, but a two-goal halftime deficit proved too much for Avila (3-8-1, 1-5-1 KCAC) to overcome in a 3-1 win for Sterling (2-6-4, 1-3-2 KCAC) on Wednesday afternoon at The Z.

In a matchup of two teams towards the bottom of the KCAC standings but by no means out of playoff contention with half the season still to play, Wednesday's game was a competitive one for two teams who were trying to gain ground in the league table. Sterling largely dictated the pace early and that early pressure came to a head in the 17^th minute when Marco Madrono set up Matthew Dale for the game's opening goal. Exactly two minutes later, the Warriors were right back it, with Madrono setting up top Warrior goal scorer Jacobo Sanfeliu for his tenth goal of the season to put Sterling up 2-0.

Naguib Nassir made four saves in the final 25 minutes of the first half after the goal from Sanfeliu to keep the Eagles right in it, including a highlight reel save to reach up and deny a strike from Kevin Campbell in the 30^th minute. Nassir then made another save off Sanfeliu in the second half to keep the deficit at two before the Eagle offense finally broke through on a counterattack. Matthew Kelne played the ball in from the left back finding Jaime Gomez, and though his initial shot was saved he stayed on the rebound and blasted it home to bring Avila within 2-1 in the 67^th minute.

Malcolm Goswell got another shot on target that goalkeeper Ferriol Caballe turned aside in the 74^th minute, but the Eagle offense could never generate an equalizer. Ultimately Sterling added an insurance tally to put the game out of reach with just under ten minutes remaining on a goal from Matheus Lara, which helped to seal the deal for the Warriors in a 3-1 road win.

Up next, Avila men's soccer will return to the road for another KCAC contest this Saturday, October 15, against Tabor. Kickoff has been moved up to 3:30 PM; as always, you can watch all the action on the KCAC Network.