WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer team came out victorious in the first match of a men and women's doubleheader by defeating Waynesburg (Pa.) University in a non-conference matchup by a final score of 5-0 in the John F. Wiley Stadium.
BW (5-3) remained undefeated in the battle of the Yellow Jackets, improving their record to 4-0-1 in all-time matchups against Waynesburg (2-6).
Sophomore midfielder Dylan Keeling (Rocky River) scored a key goal in tonight's match. "I saw the ball come out in between two defenders, so took a touch forward, faked one shot, and then ripped it." While his goal helped build BW's momentum early on in the game, he acknowledged the whole team's effort in the impressive win from start to finish. "I was very happy with our team's performance. I thought we put away goals when we needed to and everybody played their part."
BW wasted no time introducing themselves to the back of the opposition's net in the first half. Senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference, Academic All-OAC, and CoSIDA Academic All-American forward Danny Ruple (Berea/Berea-Midpark) scored in just the 3rd minute of the game. Ruple's 11th goal of the season was assisted by freshman midfielder Brandon Garibotti (Berea/Berea-Midpark). In the 19th minute of the match, BW's Keeling scored his third goal of the season on a beautiful strike from roughly 25 yards out that found the top left corner of the net. Senior forward Cannon Dees (Berea/Berea-Midpark) wrapped up the scoring for BW in the first half when he buried his first goal of the campaign off a scramble in front of the net to put his team up 3-0 in the 36th minute. BW outshot Waynesburg 5-1 in the first half to cap off its strong performance.
Freshman goalkeeper Matt Weaver (Ontario) got tested early in his first glimpse of collegiate action for BW in the second half. In the second minute of the half, Weaver made a one-handed save from his back to preserve the 3-0 lead. However, BW came right back sealed the game with two late goals. First, in the 82nd minute, sophomore midfielder Nick Surowicz (Medina/Highland) scored his first collegiate goal, assisted by freshman midfielder Andras Fabian (Hinckley/Highland). Then in the 88th minute, senior midfielder Rafael Davalos (Kettering/Alter) scored his third goal of the season on a penalty kick to put BW up 5-0 for good. All three of Davalos' goals this year have come off of penalty kicks.
BW senior goalkeeper Patrick Mehal (Richfield/Revere) made one save in the first 45 minutes of action, earning the win and improving his record to 5-3 on the year. BW's Weaver, in his first ver collegiate appearance, started in goal in the second half making two saves in five minutes of action. Freshman goalkeeper Nolan Kellogg (Strongsville) played the last 40 minutes of the game for BW, but did not face any shots on goal. The three keepers' performances earned them a combined shutout.
BW returns to the pitch on Wednesday, September 25 when it takes on Grove City (Pa.) College in a non-conference matchup on Tressel Field in the George Finnie Stadium at 7:00 p.m.
