OLIVET, Mich. – The Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer team used a strong first half to rout Olivet (Mich.) College by a final score of 4-0 in a non-conference match on the Olivet College Soccer Field.
With his two goals in this afternoon's game, BW (6-4) senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference, Academic All-OAC, and CoSIDA Academic All-American forward Danny Ruple (Berea/Berea-Midpark) is now tied for 10th place on the all-time OAC goals list with 55 career goals. His next goal will move him into a tie him for eighth place. Capital University's Steven McCarthy (2006-2009) owns the OAC career goals record with 69.
In addition to his monumental milestone, Ruple now leads the nation in goals and points at the NCAA Division III level with 14 and 30, respectively.
BW has now won every matchup it has ever had with Olivet (3-6-1), improving their all-time series record against them to a perfect 3-0.
The Yellow Jackets had no trouble finding the back of the net in the first half. In the 19th minute, Ruple began the scoring for BW with two goals just mere 13 seconds of one another. Senior forward Joey Geither collected his team-leading sixth assist of the season on Ruple's second goal. Next was Geither's turn to get involved in the scoring barrage, when he netted his third goal of the season off a cross from freshman midfielder Brandon Garibotti (Berea/Berea-Midpark) to put BW up 3-0 in the 30th minute. The Yellow Jackets then took a commanding four-goal lead in the 39th minute when freshman forward Jared Webb (Southfield, Mich./Brother Rice)banked in a cross from senior Cannon Dees (Berea/Berea-Midpark) that deflected off of sophomore midfielder Dylan Keeling (Rocky River).
Even though BW failed to record another goal for the rest of the game, it continued to outplay the Comets on the offensive end, peppering 12 total shots on goal compared to Olivet's two.
Yellow Jackets senior goalkeeper Patrick Mehal (Richfield/Revere) was in goal for the first 45 minutes and stopped the one shot he faced before being substituted for freshman goalkeeper Nolan Kellogg (Strongsville). Kellogg finished the game for BW making one save and allowing no goals. With the victory, Mehal improved his record to 5-4 on the year while earning the combined shutout along with Kellogg.
The Yellow Jackets will wrap up non-conference play on Tuesday, October 1, when they host the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (Pa.) on Tressel Field at 7:00 p.m.
