MARION, Ind. -- Corey Lopez (SR/Warsaw, Ind.) scored twice in leading top-seed Indiana Wesleyan University men’s soccer to a 2-0 victory over No. 5-seed Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) to advance to the Crossroads League Tournament Championship Game. 

Game Vitals

• Score:  Indiana Wesleyan - 2   |   Mount Vernon Nazarene - 0
• Records:  Indiana Wesleyan 14-5-0   |   Mount Vernon Nazarene 8-7-5
• NAIA Top- 25 Rank:  Indiana Wesleyan - Receiving votes   |   Mount Vernon Nazarene - Not ranked
• Location:  Wildcat Field   |   Indiana Wesleyan University   |   Marion, Indiana
• Brief:  Corey Lopez scored twice in leading top-seed Indiana Wesleyan University men’s soccer to a 2-0 victory over No. 5-seed Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) to advance to the Crossroads League Tournament Championship Game.

What Went Down

• Corey Lopez struck early for Indiana Wesleyan with a goal in the ninth minute. Samuel Conti (FR/Fredonia, NY) took the initial shot that was saved by the MVNU keeper but Lopez was there for the rebound to give IWU the 1-0 lead.
• Indiana Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead into halftime. IWU outshot MVNU 5-4 in the first 45 minutes but MVNU held a 3-2 advantage in shots on net.
• Corey Lopez secured the semifinal victory with a goal in the 88th minute for the 2-0 advantage. Samuel Conti played the ball over the MVNU back line where Lopez gained possession and beat the keeper for his second tally of the match.
• Josh Goepper (SR/Shelby Township, Mich.) had a huge night in net for the Wildcats. He tied a season-high with eight saves to earn the shutout. It was the 12th shutout of the season for Goepper and the Wildcats which ranks third in the NAIA.
• Indiana Wesleyan and Mount Vernon Nazarene each fired off 11 shots. MVNU put eight shots on goal compared to five for Indiana Wesleyan.

Coaches Corner

• “Big games need players to step up and certainly Corey Lopez did that tonight. We will need to be really good against Grace. They’re a good team and we have to be quality in all areas to win. We have a goal and will be prepared to compete and finish this season out well. We’re happy but not satisfied.”

• Indiana Wesleyan head coach Luke Sanford

Extra! Extra!

• The Wildcats advance to the Crossroads League Tournament Championship Match for a fourth straight year. The Wildcats are 2-1 in the previous three trips to the championship match and have won the last two.
• Indiana Wesleyan has allowed just two goals since October which covers 10 matches.

Next Time Out

• Indiana Wesleyan will host Grace (Ind.) in the Crossroads League Tournament Championship. The match will pit the top two teams in the tournament which will be played next Saturday at Wildcat Field. Grace and Spring Arbor (Mich.) tied 0-0 in the other semifinal match with Grace advancing on PK’s (5-4).