Photo Credit: Eric Decker

Leon Eisert (Leipzig, Germany/Kathe-Kollwitz Gymnasium) scored twice and Hussein Sbeiti (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn H.S.) added another goal as Lourdes opened the 2021 season with a 3-1 victory over Olivet Nazarene on Saturday evening (Aug. 21) at Snowbarger Athletic Complex in Bourbonnais, Ill.
 
With the victory, the Gray Wolves have won back-to-back season openers and are now 5-1-1 all-time in their first match of the season.
 
"This was a really good win for us on the road to open the season against a very good opponent," head coach Matt Johnson said afterwards.  "I thought we did well to battle, but we still need to improve as a team."
 
Eisert, who scored just once in nine matches for the Gray Wolves in 2020, wasted little time putting the Gray Wolves in front.  Andris Klempert (Hamburg, Germany/Stadtteilschule Walddorfer) played a ball over the Tigers' defense where Eisert ran on to it and dribbled past the netminder for the season's first tally just 9:14 into the match.
 
Lourdes maintained the 1-0 lead into intermission, despite being outshot 7-6 in the opening 45 minutes.
 
The Gray Wolves went a man up in the 50^th minute as Olivet Nazarene's starting goalkeeper Mike Giannotta was issued a straight red card after a challenge just outside the penalty area. 
 
Lourdes doubled its advantage with just over 25 minutes to play in the second half.  On the counter attack, Farouk Amoo (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood H.S.) drew a defender and sent the ball to Sbeiti who found the back of the net on the ensuing breakaway.  The goal was the second of Sbeiti's career.
 
Olivet Nazarene (0-1) pulled within a goal with 16 minutes remaining as Nick Kilian sent a cross to Justin Eisenmann who put the Tigers on the scoreboard.
 
With 8:02 left in the match, Darius Passley-Bennett (Wimbledon, England/Petchey Academy) won a scramble in the box and the ball was played out to Eisert, who added an insurance tally for Lourdes.
 
Igor Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Pentagono) made three saves in goal for Lourdes in his first career start between the posts.  Giannotta made four stops for the Tigers before Ian Lowe made one final save in his 40 minutes of action.  Each side registered 14 total shot attempts for the match and four corner kick opportunities.
 
Lourdes (1-0) remains on the road Wednesday evening, as the Gray Wolves travel to Centerville, Ind. to battle Indiana East.  Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Centerville High School.