WOOSTER, Ohio — The Kenyon College men's soccer team delivered one of its most complete performances of the season, cruising to a 4-0 victory over The College of Wooster. The win snapped the Fighting Scots' 16-game unbeaten streak and lifted the Owls to 6-3-7 overall and 2-2-4 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play. Wooster dropped to 11-1-5 and 3-1-3 in conference action.
Kenyon wasted no time setting the tone, finding the net in just the sixth minute. A corner kick sent into traffic was cleared only partially, and sophomore Ethan Castaneda pounced on the rebound to slot home his first goal of the year. First-year Jack Commandeur picked up the assist, his first of the season.
After maintaining defensive composure through Wooster's first-half press, Kenyon doubled its advantage in the 58th minute. Another corner sparked chaos in the box before senior Robbie Stroebel ripped a low strike through a crowded goalmouth to make it 2-0, marking his second goal of the season.
The Owls continued to punish Wooster on set pieces in the 73rd minute. Commandeur, this time on the receiving end, finished off a loose ball in the six-yard box for his fourth tally of the season and Kenyon's third of the afternoon.
Kenyon capped the scoring in the 80th minute after being awarded a penalty. Senior James Paden calmly converted from the spot for his first collegiate goal, sealing the 4-0 result.
Wooster led in total shots (17-9) and corner kicks (10-4), but Kenyon's defensive organization and opportunistic finishing proved to be the difference. Goalkeeper Dominic Pratt anchored the back line with seven saves en route to his fifth clean sheet of the season.
With the postseason picture tightening, Kenyon looks to make a final push to secure a spot in the NCAC Tournament. The Owls currently sit fifth in the conference standings, just one point behind fourth-place John Carroll University, who holds ten points. With the final pair of regular season games taking place this weekend, every result will matter as Kenyon aims to climb into the top four. The Owls will host their regular season finale on Saturday, November 1, when they welcome Ohio Wesleyan University to Mavec Field for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
