Coyotes cruise to wins over Ottawa
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

The Kansas Wesleyan University Soccer teams cruised to a pair of wins over Ottawa University on Wednesday night at Martin Stadium. The women posted the teams’ tenth straight win and fourth straight shutout with a 4-0 win, while the men scored three second half goals en route to a 4-1 win.

KWU WOMEN 4, OTTAWA 0 – KWU’s Kat Benton scored twice as the Lady Coyotes cruised to a 4-0 win over the Lady Braves.

Benton got Wesleyan (14-1, 6-0) on the board first in the 13th minute on a pass from an unlikely source in KWU keeper Kelli Beatty. Beatty’s goal kick bounced once over the heads of the Ottawa defense and Benton took the ball, beating a defender and finishing in the upper right corner.

Ottawa goalkeeper Stephanie Henderson had a busy first half, recording 11 saves in the period, and only allowing one KWU goal as KWU routinely shredded Ottawa’s packed defensive set, but could not find the net.

The Lady Braves had a couple chances in the half to get goals, but Wesleyan keeper Kelli Beatty made great saves including a diving stop on a point blank range shot by Lauren Davidson just before the half.

Eliana Parada found the net for the 12th time in the 2007 season in the 56th minute. Parada took a ball from the left side and dribbled across the box to the right side of the six-yard box and fired a shot past Henderson for the score.

Heather Muilenburg scored less than four minutes later with a little help from the Ottawa defense. OU’s Samantha Cooke would deflect a ball in front of the goal that was saved by Henderson, but rolled away and Muilenburg capitalized on the play for the goal.

Benton would get her second goal of the night in the 62nd minute. Benton would take a ball on a deflection off an Ottawa defender and go one-on-one with Henderson, going top shelf into the left corner for the score.

Kelli Beatty would go the distance for her seventh shutout of the season.

KWU MEN 4, OTTAWA 1 – Mario Rodriguez made good on being named NAIA National Men’s Soccer Player of the Week without even knowing it. Rodriguez scored twice as the Coyotes cruised past Ottawa 4-1.

Rodriguez, who was named the NAIA National Player of the Week earlier in the evening, got things started in the 18th minute. Jose Garay found Rodriguez in front of the goal from the right side and Rodriguez went top shelf against Chris Munoz to give Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.

The Coyotes would take a 1-0 lead into the half.

The Braves would even things up at 1-all in the 53rd when Jacob Eaton would hit a shot from 30 yards out following a takeaway from the Coyotes.

It would only take the Coyotes five minutes to regain the lead when Rashaun Thompson would score off a corner kick play. Jayro Martinez would play the ball into the box where Garay passed a shot to poke the ball out to Thompson who would find the back of the net.

Jimi Gleason would find Rodriguez in the 76th minute to give the Coyotes a 4-1 lead. Rodriguez would get the ball inside the box on the left side and score easily.

Brandon Rumore would cap the scoring for Wesleyan in the 85th minute. Miguel Wenceslao would start the play with a long pass to Blake Schwartz on the right side. Schwartz then found Rumore right in front of the goal and his crossing shot would find the back of the net for the score.

The Coyotes would improve to 9-3-2 overall and 5-0-1 in KCAC play behind another stellar performance in goal by Robert Carillo, who went the distance, allowing just one goal, and had two saves.

Both Wesleyan Soccer teams are on the road this Saturday at Saint Mary and are back on the road again one week from tonight at Tabor before wrapping up the regular season on October 20 at home against arch-rival Bethany.

-- KWU SI --