HIRAM, Ohio - September 28, 2024 - Hiram extended its unbeaten streak to five straight matches on Saturday evening at Henry Field, as it executed when it needed to in a 2-1 win over Muskingum.
It's the program's longest unbeaten streak since the start of the 2012 season, when the Terriers opened the year with a 11-0-1 record and finished with their best record in program history (15-3-1).
It was a match that was made for highlight reels, as even Hiram's shots on goal drew the attention of a supportive home crowd that had to battle through heavy rain throughout the night. Cooper Williams and Blake Kubasak each scored their first goals of the season, while Bedo Kusuni nearly made a case for the SportsCenter Top-10 with multiple bicycle kicks that lined into the diving hands of the opposing goalkeeper.
Williams broke the scoring barrier in the 21st minute, as he skillfully made the most of Taeven Genovese's corner kick by turning his back toward the net and reversing the ball into the bottom-left corner. Not only was it the first career goal for Williams, but it also came on his first career shot attempt.
Muskingum answered with a goal in the 23rd minute, but Hiram grabbed the lead again in the 31st minute on a Kubasak goal. The sophomore took a Liam O'Brien pass and fired a low-lining shot into the right side of the net to regain the one-goal advantage.
Hiram wouldn't score in the second half, but it certainly came close with five of its eight shots landing on target. Kusuni, who registered his first two career goals on Wednesday at La Roche, had a pair of bicycle kicks that both applied pressure on the Fighting Muskies defense.
The Terriers defense, which featured Simon Schonfeld, Dom Incorvati and Cooper Williams, held its ground to keep the lead intact. Muskingum was limited to three shots on goal for the entirety of the non-conference affair.
Hiram will return to action in exactly one week; the Terriers begin the NCAC schedule with a road battle at Denison on Saturday, October 5 at 1 p.m. in Granville, Ohio.
