GAMBIER, Ohio – The Kenyon College men's soccer team dismantled the Wittenberg University Tigers by a score of 6-0 on Wednesday afternoon. The Owls dominated the 3-4-3 Tigers throughout 90 minutes of play to move to 8-2-0 on the season and 2-0-0 in conference play. Kenyon came into the match ranked 12th in the NCAA's National Power Index (NPI), and demonstrated their ranking at Mavec.
Scoring came quickly for Kenyon as Jack Commandeur opened the scoring for the Owls in the seventh minute. Kevin Farina took the ball and danced to the top of the box firing a shot which would land at the feet of a charging Commandeur to make the game 1-0. Playing with high possession numbers, the Owls extended their lead to two goals in the 40th minute. Emmett Brown chased after a bouncing ball heading towards the box. After firing a shot off the keeper the junior forward collected his own rebound delivering it into the net for a goal.
Coming off a half in which they did not concede any shots, Kenyon added to the shot differential with shots from Luca Bilotto and
Grant Blake. Soon after,
Robert Little danced up the wing, placing a beautiful ball to a waiting Bondartsov. The first year midfielder banged it off the left post and into the net past a diving Wittenberg keeper to extend the lead to three-nil. Only six minutes later
Joey Nigro was rewarded with a corner opportunity. With favorable wind and a golden boot, Nigro found the net for an olympico, pushing the Owls to a four goal lead.
In only the 59th minute the Owls struck again, this time in the form of first year Luca Bilotto.
Lucas de Alarcon took the ball towards the front post before finding a well positioned Bilotto who never gave the keeper a chance, securing his third goal of the year. The sixth and final goal would occur in the 87th minute of the match.
Clyde Felsen retrieved a bouncing ball in the left side of the box before taking it to the center of the box extending the lead to a final score of 6-0.
A strong defensive unit helped provide plenty of opportunities in the attacking third as Kenyon did not concede a shot until the 90th minute. Kayser tallies his seventh clean sheet of the season picking up another strong showing.
Conference play continues on the road for the Kenyon side on Saturday, October 10, at Wabash College for a 1:00 PM kickoff.
