Box Score Cedarville, Ohio -- The Indiana Wesleyan University men?s soccer team pulled away in the second half against NAIA ninth-ranked University of Rio Grande to win 3-1 at the Cedarville University Tournament Friday evening.
?It is hard to pick out one individual who played really well tonight because the whole team played outstanding,? said IWU head coach Mark Castro. ?We responded well against one of the best teams in the nation.
?We are happy with tonight?s performance, but we are not satisfied as we look ahead to Cedarville tomorrow.?
The NAIA thirteenth-ranked Wildcats (3-0-1) netted the first goal of the game in the 15th minute off a Christian Davis free kick. Just outside the penalty box on the right side of the field, Davis angled the free kick to the back post where 6-foot, two-inch IWU defender Ben Chleboun managed to place his head on the ball and into the back of the net.
Rio Grande showed why they are ranked in the NAIA top 10 as they responded in the 34th minute. In transition, Rio Grande?s Dylan Williams crossed the ball to Jason Massie, who received the ball from about ten yards out and even the score with his shot. The Top 25 duel was a deadlock at halftime 1-1.
A freshman-senior connection in the 68th minute put the Wildcats up for good. Freshman forward Kyle Joern crossed in the ball from the right side towards the back post where senior forward David Lopez out jumped his defender and the on-rushing Rio Grande goalkeeper to squeeze the ball just inside the near post for what would be the game-winning goal.
The Wildcats earned their final score after senior Matt Grabner ran onto a through ball into the penalty area where he was fouled leading to a penalty kick for IWU. Junior forward Joel Trainer promptly placed the ball in the back of the net for the 3-1 tally.
The Wildcats continue play in the Cedarville University Tournament tomorrow as they play host Cedarville University at 7:30 p.m.
