Eagle Men Continue Strong Start, Topple No. 18 Gannon In Home Opener

Forget that Ashland University's new-look men's soccer team has been together for just less than a month.
 
That's because after the first two games of the 2022 season, the Eagles look like they've played together for years.
 
On Wednesday (Aug. 31) night at Ferguson Field, Ashland defeated No. 18-ranked Gannon, 1-0. That result, coupled with a 1-1 draw to open the season at No. 6 Millersville, gives the Eagles a 1-0-1 mark to start the new campaign.
 
"You put a team together, and they're basically all new players," said Ashland head coach Nick Roberts. "In preseason, we started out slow. It's still early, but right now, they've played well, they look good defensively.
 
"The bottom line is, they look like a cohesive team."
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The first half was a feeling-out process to start, but after the first 45 minutes, the Eagles had an 8-3 shots advantage.
• In the 60^th minute, sophomore forward Jake Grove took a header pass from senior forward Floris Kluemper and scored 1-on-1 with Gannon goalkeeper David Synstelien to put AU on top. It was Grove's second collegiate goal, as he potted one as a freshman last fall.
• "Especially coming off the back end of last season, not getting the results that we wanted, and get a tie against the No. 6 in the nation, then get a result in the home opener against 18^th-ranked Gannon, honestly, there's no better feeling than winning," Grove said.
• In the 84^th minute, a Golden Knights header was speared out of the air by sophomore goalkeeper Ty Bowden, who finished with five saves in the victory.
• "That's a huge thing for us, knowing that the boys in the back aren't going to leak any goals," Grove said. "That breeds confidence for the rest of the team. That for us is gold."

 
THE WRAP-UP

• Ashland out-shot Gannon by a 14-9 count, and the Eagles had a 7-5 lead in corner kicks.
• The Eagles' 1-0-1 start after two games is their best since a 2-0 beginning in 2017.

 
UP NEXT
Ashland will play the other NCAA Division II team based in Erie, Pa., on Saturday (Sept. 3) at 7 p.m. at Mercyhurst (3-0).