ELSAH, Ill. – The Washington University in St. Louis men's soccer team used a pair of second-half goals to pick up a 2-0 win over Principia on the road Tuesday evening in Elsah. With the win, the Bears improve to 4-1-2 on the season.
The score remained unchanged from the opening whistle through the first 45 minutes of the contest. WashU controlled the ball and pace through the first half, taking 10 shots while holding Principia to just four. Five of the Bears' shots were on goal, forcing the Panthers' goalie to make a save.
Like much of the opening period, WashU started the second half by keeping the ball in its offensive half. It took less than three minutes before the Bears took their first shot when sophomore
Sebastian Valdes fired a shot on the ground that was saved.
However, it did not take much longer for Valdes to put the Bears on the board. After a pass from around midfield to the offensive end of the pitch, Valdes dribbled around from the right side of the box, around several defenders, and fired a shot that tipped off the goalie's gloves into the net for the goal at 50:45.
WashU maintained its one-goal lead until the 85th minute. Senior
Ethan Wirtschafter took a long pass from the left side of midfield and dribbled around a defender before finding sophomore
Casper Leary in front of the goal. Leary fired a shot just to the right of the goalie into the back of the net as the Bears took a 2-0 lead at 84:27.
Senior
Cal L'Hommedieu made a jumping save in the final 30 seconds of the contest to preserve the shutout for WashU, 2-0.
Wirtschafter led the Bears with four shots. Valdes finished with three shots, all on goal, including his game-winner.
Senior
Cal L'Hommedieu played all 90 minutes, making two saves to pick up his fourth win, and second shutout, of the season.
The Bears finished with 22 shots while holding the Panthers to just seven.
WashU is back at home on Saturday, Sept. 26, when it hosts Centre at 1 p.m. on Francis Olympic Field.
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Elevating scholar-champions requires resources beyond the institutional budget. Through the W Club, generous alumni, parents, and friends provide unrestricted support that is essential to the extraordinary WashU student-athlete experience—and the ongoing growth and development of the department. Annual support for Athletics allows the Bears to consistently rise to national levels of competition and ensures that our student-athletes enjoy exceptional opportunities as they train, compete, and lead. To make a gift to the Annual Fund for Athletics, please visit our secure online giving form or contact the Athletics Advancement Office at athletics@wustl.edu.
