Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Zack Kokes celebrates a goal
Nick Helten
2
Augustana (IL) AUGIE (4-8-0, 0-6-0)
5
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU (3-7-1, 2-2-0)
Augustana (IL) AUGIE
(4-8-0, 0-6-0)
2
Final
5
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
(3-7-1, 2-2-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Augustana (IL) AUGIE 0 2 2
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 4 1 5

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Rides Early Lead to 5-2 Rout of Augustana

Titans score first goal within 22 seconds

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team overpowered Augustana College in a 5-2 victory at Neis Field Saturday, Oct. 16. The Titans scored a season-high five goals over the Vikings, the most they have put behind a Augie goalkeeper in a single game. IWU moved to a 3-7-1 overall record and 2-2 in conference standings. The Vikings dropped to 4-8 overall and 0-6 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. 

Freshman CJ Rodriguez (Santa Barbara, Calif.- Dos Pueblos) opened up the scoring for the Green and White just 22 seconds into the match. The freshman picked up his first career goal and one of the fastest goals to open a match in Titans history. Sophomore Gavin Smith (Seattle, Wash.- Eastside Preparatory School) set Rodriquez up to give the Titans a 1-0 lead. 

Just 10 minutes into the game, senior Zack Kokes (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central) put the Titans up 2-0 at the seventh minute mark. Junior Nico Thomas (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Bethany) fired the ball at the Augie keeper and Kokes put himself in the right spot to net the rebound. 

Starting freshman center defender Justin Hart (Morton, Ill.-Morton) grabbed his first career goal off Rodriguez's corner kick. The freshmen duo's set-piece combo widened the gap for the Titans 3-0, with 31 minutes still to go in the first half. 

The Titans were on a roll as almost 10 minutes later senior Donovan Malone (Houston, Texas- St. Pius X) picked up the Titans fourth goal of the day as senior Trevor Martin (San Diego, Calif.-St. Augustine) set Malone up. Malone and Martin capped off the scoring in the first half as the Titans headed into the break up 4-0. 

Freshman goalkeeper Ethan Fineman (Highland Park. Ill.-Highland Park) grabbed his third straight start for the Green and White before senior Brett Sprengel (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-Barrington) entered for the second 45. 

With a 4-0 lead, the Vikings were given a penalty kick at the 56-minute mark where they kept the Titans from a shutout, closing the gap 4-1. Kokes responded for the Green and White, just two minutes later, with his second goal of the day to put the Titans up 5-1. Similarly, Smith grabbed his second helper of the day in the Titans final goal of the match for a two-point evening. 

Around the 80 minute mark the Vikings scored their second and final goal of the day but the Titans walked away with a 5-2 victory. 

IWU is back in action Wednesday, Oct. 20 for a CCIW game against Elmhurst University. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start after the women's 5 p.m. match at Neis Field. 
Print Friendly Version