BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer team opened up Ohio Athletic Conference action tonight with a 3-0 road win against Capital University in Bernlohr Stadium.
With his two assists in tonight's match, senior All-OAC, Academic All-OAC, and CoSIDA All-American forward Danny Ruple (Berea/Berea/Midpark) is now tied for the BW (8-4) career assists record with 27. He needs one more assist to pass Ken Daniels (1985-1988) for the all-time lead. Ruple has already set the all-time points and goals record earlier this season, and will aim to accomplish the offensive trifecta very soon. In addition, he also moved into a tie for tenth place on the OAC's career assists list. Ohio Northern University's Nate Bascomb (2008, 2010-2012) owns the conference record with 43.
With tonight's victory over Capital (3-3-3), BW earned its third consecutive victory, a season-high for this year's squad.
The Yellow Jackets struck quickly to grab the early lead in the first half. In the 13th minute, Ruple sped down the right wing with the ball and passed it to net-front awaiting senior forward Joey Geither (Parma/Normandy) for the east tap-in and his fifth goal of the season. BW held on to their one goal lead for the remainder of the half as it headed to break.
History seemed to have had repeated itself in the second half when the frame's first goal mimicked that of the first. In the 70th minute, Ruple turned on the jets once more to beat a Crusaders defender on the left wing, then passed the ball to Geither who squeeked a shot in just by the keeper's reach from just inside the box. The goal marked Geither's second goal of the game and sixth of the campaign. Roughly three minutes later, after a wonderful passing sequence between the two players, sophomore midfielder Dylan Keeling (Rocky River) netted in his fourth goal of the season on a rebound from a shot by sophomore midfielder Attila Nagy Jr. (Lakewood). The Yellow Jackets held on to their lead for the remainder of the game with tremendous defense, and the score remained 3-0 until the final buzzer.
Senior BW goalkeeper Patrick Mehal (Richfield/Revere) garnered the victory tonight's match, facing a rather convenient and pleasant zero shots in the contest. His record improved to 8-4 on the year on route to his ninth career shutout.
The Yellow Jackets return to the pitch on Wednesday, October 9 when they travel to Ada to take on OAC opponent Ohio Northern at 7:00 p.m. in Kerscher Stadium.
