Soccer teams post pair of shutouts against Avila
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan Soccer pitched a pair of shutouts against Avila University on Saturday night at Salina Stadium. The No.25 ranked Lady Coyotes won 3-0, while the men followed up with a 7-0 thrashing of the Eagles.

As they have done all season, the Lady Coyotes fired quickly and often at the goal, totaling 26 shots on the night, 19 of them on goal. It took until the 24th minute for Brittany Brown to get Wesleyan on the board off a pass from Kat Benton.

Brown took Benton’s pass and went one-on-one with Avila keeper Maddie Covalt, finding paydirt.

Just ten minutes later, Wesleyan (7-1) found the net again, this time from Janna Macy. Macy took the ball uncontested to the top of the penalty area and fired a shot past Covalt, making it 2-0 in favor of the Lady Coyotes in the 34th minute.

After the half, Avila (5-2) turned up its offensive pressure, but was unable to find the net, as they only managed four shots on the night.

Wesleyan added a little insurance in the 70th minute when Benton found the net.

Kelli Beatty went the distance in goal for the Lady Coyotes, tallying three saves.

Mario Rodriguez scored the first two goals for the Coyote men as they cruised to a 7-0 win over the Eagles.

It only took Rodriguez two minutes and five seconds to score the first goal of the night, as he went untouched into the box and fired a shot past Avila keeper Max Hasselquist.

Rodriguez’ second tally came in the 14th minute as he took a pass from Jimi Gleason and went in for the score.

Jose Garay found paydirt a minute and a half later with a goal to put Wesleyan ahead 3-0. Garay then assisted on a goal by freshman Blake Schwartz in the 25th minute to cap the first half scoring for the Coyotes.

Wesleyan’s (4-3) first goal of the second half was a gift from the Eagles (2-4). Eric Garcia fired a shot into goal that was stopped by backup keeper Chris Kalicak, but the rebound came back out to Garcia, who shot again, but the ball careened off a Avila defender and into the net.

Anthony Russo put Wesleyan up 6-0 with a score in the 84th minute, and Tyler Colby capped the scoring with a goal off a pass from Daynon Kirby in the 88th minute.

The Coyotes are back in action on Wednesday night when they open KCAC play against Southwestern. Kickoff for the women’s game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at KWU’s Martin Stadium, with the men to follow at approximately 8:00.

-- KWU SI --