Three goals in a less-than-four-minute span in the first half propelled Ashland University's men's soccer team to a 5-1 win at Findlay on Saturday (Sept. 30) afternoon.
The victory keeps the Eagles near the top of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference table at 3-5-2 overall and 3-1-2 in the league – five points behind first-place Tiffin. The Oilers are 3-3-3, 1-3-2.
Ashland has scored nine goals in two games this week after posting 12 goals in the first eight outings of 2023.
NOTABLES
- In the 21st minute, junior forward Pedro Faria scored his third goal of the week, fourth in the last three games, and fifth of the season to put Ashland ahead. Then, in the 23rd minute, junior midfielder Teddy Togliatti's first tally of 2023 on the third assist of the campaign from senior midfielder Vander Rocha put the Eagles ahead 2-0.
- Ashland's third goal in less than four minutes, this one in the 25th, came from junior midfielder Rodri Fernandez. It was Fernandez's fourth goal of the season, and it came after a pass from fifth-year midfielder Oliver Whaley, his sixth assist of a year.
- Rocha potted the Eagles' fourth goal of the game in the 70th minute – his third of the season – on a feed from Fernandez, his third assist of the season.
- Findlay got on the board in the 73rd minute on a penalty kick goal from Christian Palushaj, but less than a minute later, freshman midfielder Sergio Ruiz's first collegiate goal put the Eagles back up by four goals at 5-1. Fernandez's assist on Ruiz's goal was his second of the game and fourth of the campaign.
- Junior goalkeeper Ty Bowden (2-1) made five saves in the victory.
- The Eagles had a 15-12 advantage in shots, but the Oilers took 10 of the game's 12 corner kicks.
- Ashland improves to 22-9-3 all-time against Findlay.
UP NEXT
Ashland's men will travel to Painesville, Ohio, to take on Lake Erie (4-3-2, 3-1-2) on Wednesday (Oct. 4) at 3:30 p.m.
