ROCKFORD, Ill. - Three second-half goals closed out the Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team's first win of the year as the Titans took down Rockford University, 3-0, Wednesday, Sept. 9. IWU moved to 1-1-1 with the victory while giving RU (2-1-1) its first loss of the year.
The Green and White stymied the Regents, putting up a 24-1 lead in shots and 7-1 lead in corners. Rockford's lone shot came in the first half, while the Titans fired off 16 in the second 45.
Illinois Wesleyan kept steady pressure on Rockford's defense with an overwhelming control of possession, but the Titans went to half tied, 0-0, despite an 8-1 lead in shots.
IWU thwarted any semblance of an opportunity from Rockford as sophomore Hunter Reinberg (Washington, Mo.-St. Francis Borgia) fought off a Regents freekick to give the Green and White a goal kick. Monken booted the ball to midfield where Reinberg flicked it to junior Blye Brickman (Edwardsville, Ill.-Edwardsville). Gaining possession inside IWU's attacking half, Brickman tapped a beautiful pass through two defenders to junior Gavin Young (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic) who skirted down the far side of the pitch and rifled a shot off the goalkeeper's gloves and into the back of the net to score the opening goal.
The Green and White doubled its lead in the 78th minute on sophomore Alexis Ramirez's (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) first career goal. After an initial cross was blocked, Ramirez stepped in and uncorked a volley into the back of the net.
IWU's offense continued to fire, with sophomore Sage Mullen (Delano, Minn.-Delano) maintaining possession as RU attempted to clear the ball. Dropping off a pass to his right, Mullen put the ball at the feet of junior Dillon Tierney (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) who promptly sent a 28-yard shot past Rockford's diving keeper. The goal, the first of Tierney's career, extended the Titans' lead to 3-0.
With its opening road trip in the rearview, Illinois Wesleyan returns to Neis Field Saturday, Sept. 12, to host Knox College. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. and will serve as the backend of a doubleheader with the IWU women's soccer team.
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Illinois Wesleyan University
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