On Thursday (Oct. 20) night in Columbus, Ashland University's men's soccer team used a clean sheet and two more goals from fifth-year forward
Haruki Kimura to stay in first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference following a 3-0 win over Ohio Dominican.
The Eagles remain in a tie for first place atop the Great Midwest table with Tiffin, have clinched a first-round bye in the 2022 Great Midwest Tournament, and improve to 10-4-1 overall and 9-3 in the league after their ninth win in the last 10 games. Ashland has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dragons with two games to play, while Tiffin has just one regular-season game to play.
ODU is 3-9-3, 3-7-2 after their seventh consecutive loss.
Ashland, which has earned its most wins in a season in 12 years (13 in 2010), is among those under consideration for a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs in Super Region 3 after the release of the first set of regional rankings on Wednesday (Oct. 19) afternoon.
WHAT HAPPENED
- After a nil-nil first half, Kimura got the game's scoring going in the 52nd minute, potting his seventh goal of the season on assists from fifth-year midfielder Oliver Whaley (fourth assist of 2022) and sophomore midfielder Oliver Lovell (second assist of the season).
- In the 72nd minute, junior midfielder Vander Rocha scored his sixth goal of the campaign, then Kimura finished off his second consecutive brace and fifth goal in the last three contests with another tally in the 82nd minute. The assist on Kimura's second goal went to fifth-year forward Floris Kluemper.
THE WRAP-UP
- Sophomore goalkeeper Ty Bowden turned in his fifth clean sheet of the season and sixth of his Ashland career, making nine saves in the process.
- The Eagles' shot advantage was a slim one at 16-15, and ODU had a 9-7 edge in corner kicks.
UP NEXT
Ashland's men will travel to Findlay for another key Great Midwest contest on Saturday (Oct. 22) at 4 p.m.
