ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Back home for a quick match before hitting the road, the Washington University in St. Louis men's soccer team scored a pair of goals in the first half while adding a third in the second to secure its second win of the week with a 3-0 shutout over visiting Centre on Saturday afternoon at Francis Olympic Field.
The win improved the Bears to 5-1-2 on the season.
Both teams fought for control early in the first half, with the Bears taking the first shot in the fifth minute before holding the Colonels without an attempt until the 14th minute.
After a run of over 13 minutes without a shot by either team, WashU got one from first-year
Nick Lam in the 37th minute before a pass from sophomore
Sebastian Valdes found senior
Ethan Wirtschafter, who fired a goal past the Centre goalie to put the Bears on the board at 37:45.
WashU would secure a corner kick with just under 19 seconds remaining in the first half and would send the kick into the box, where the ball met the head of a Colonels defender and hit the back of the net, past a diving goalie, for an own goal. The Bears would lead 2-0 at the break.
The score remained the same until more than halfway through the second half, as senior
Peter Cirbo took a pass from sophomore
Casper Leary on the left side of the box before immediately firing a goal that would secure the win for the Bears, 3-0, at 74:16.
Despite sharing control in the first half, WashU would attempt to make the most of its possessions with a 20-2 lead in shots, including a 9-1 lead in shots on goal. The Colonels were not able to take a shot in the final 45 minutes.
Senior
Cal L'Hommedieu (5-1-2) played all 90 minutes in net, needing to make only one save in the win.
WashU begins a three-game road trip on Tuesday, Sept. 29, when it visits Greenville with a 5 p.m. start time.
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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.
