MARION, Ind. - IWU Club Men's Soccer delivered a strong performance on Senior Night, defeating St. Francis 4-0 at Troyer Soccer Field on Thursday afternoon. The victory also moved the Wildcats to the top of the conference standings with two games remaining.
The afternoon began with a pregame ceremony honoring seniors Gabe Carrao and Levi Brown for their contributions to the program. Following the celebrations, IWU took to the field looking to mark the occasion with a positive result. The Wildcats started brightly, controlling possession and creating several early opportunities. Despite their attacking intent, IWU were unable to find the breakthrough during the opening 15 minutes. The deadlock was eventually broken in the 22nd minute when senior Gabe Carrao collected the ball out wide and drove into the penalty area, where he was fouled to earn a penalty kick. Carrao stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead and providing a memorable moment on his Senior Night. IWU quickly doubled its advantage through forward Clark Marti, who headed home following excellent work from Tyler McGlaun. The goal gave the Wildcats a two-goal cushion, which they maintained through halftime.
St. Francis emerged with greater attacking intent after the interval and created several early opportunities. However, IWU remained organized defensively, with the back line and goalkeeper working together to prevent the visitors from finding a way back into the contest. The Wildcats extended their lead in the 57th minute through Eli Falkenberg, further strengthening their control of the match. Falkenberg then completed his brace with 15 minutes remaining, finishing off the scoring and securing a comprehensive 4-0 victory. The result marked IWU's first clean sheet of the season and provided a fitting conclusion to Senior Night.
Senior Spotlight
Thursday's match celebrated the contributions of two graduating seniors, Gabe Carrao and Levi Brown. Brown is graduating with a degree in Sports Management and hopes to pursue a career in football following college. Carrao is graduating with a degree in Graphic Design and marked his final Senior Night with a goal from the penalty spot. IWU Academy Men's Soccer congratulates both seniors on their achievements and thanks them for their contributions to the program. The team wishes them every success as they move into the next chapter of their careers.
Coach's Corner
Following the victory, Head Coach Justin Devlin reflected on the result, the importance of Senior Night, and the values surrounding the program. "I'm proud of the boys for getting their first clean sheet of the season and also getting a win on Senior Night. It was a great occasion, and I'm very thankful to everyone who came out and made it a special day. A massive thank you to former Taylor University Head Coach Gary Ross for coming and leading the boys in a great word before the game." Devlin also highlighted a message shared by Ross ahead of kickoff that resonated with the team: "Die to self in the interest of others, going all in on the person next to you."
Reflecting on the team's performance, Devlin acknowledged areas for improvement despite the positive result. "I was disappointed in how we performed. I had a go at our players at halftime, and the second half looked a lot better and a lot more dominant. We were able to give some players their first minutes of the season, which was great. The boys will be able to go and enjoy their fall break with three points in the bag."
Final Score
IWU Academy 4, St. Francis 0
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats return to action this coming Monday with an away friendly against Marian. IWU will look to build on Thursday's 4-0 victory and carry its positive momentum into the upcoming fixture.
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