The Illinois Wesleyan menâ??s soccer team struck twice in the final six minutes to come from behind and defeat Aurora on Saturday, September 10, 2022, 2-1. (Photo by Kodiak Creative/Jimmy Naprstek)

Kodiak Creative

Men’s Soccer Eyes up Prairie Fire

Team is riding a two-match win streak

9/12/2022 12:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - With two straight dramatic victories, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team will attempt to make it three in-a-row against Knox College, Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Neis Field in Bloomington. Kickoff is set to be played under the lights, with a 7 p.m. start.

The Green and White have gone undefeated since returning from the Peach State, with an overall record of 2-1-1. On the flip slide, the Prairie Fire own a record of 1-5.

IWU last took to the pitch Saturday, Sept. 10 against Aurora University. After a scoreless first 45, AU struck first with a penalty kick opportunity in the 71st minute. However, the Titans produced two goals in the last six minutes of action to steal a 2-1 victory. A junior Sasha Tylnyy (Wheeling, Ill.-Buffalo Grove) penalty kick in the 85th minute evened the score before IWU notched the game-winner. With just over 40 seconds left on the clock, junior Gavin Smith (Seattle, Wash.-Eastside Preparatory School) produced the go-ahead goal for the Green and White on a nifty volley atop the 18.

Knox, currently on a three-match losing skid, most recently took to the pitch yesterday, Sunday, Sept. 11 against Wartburg College. The Prairie Fire fell by a final score of 4-2 after allowing three second-half goals.

The Tuesday battle will mark the 12th all-time meeting between the two programs. The Titans have defeated KC in nine of the previous 11 matchups all-time. This series lead can be attributed to an eight-match win streak from Oct. 5, 1995-Sept. 1, 2006. Although IWU has had the upper hand, Knox has claimed the most recent victory between the two programs with a 2-0 win Sept. 21 of last year.

With four matches completed this season, the Titans have scored nine goals, while its opponents have scored eight, good for a 2.25 and a 2.00 goals per game average. IWU has been outshot by a 74-51 tally.

The Green and White has seen seven different student-athletes tab a goal. Smith and Tylnyy have each scored a pair, good for five and four points on the year, respectively. Junior CJ Rodriguez (Santa Barbara, Calif.-Dos Pueblos) has four points on the year with one goal and two assists.

A trio of goalkeepers has logged minutes between the posts this year. Sophomore Spencer Fulton (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) tops the team with his 225 minutes played and 13 saves. Sophomore Scott Abramson (Odessa, Fla.-Sickles) and freshman Brayden Gemaehlich (Fort Collins, Colo.-Fossil Ridge) have each appeared in one match, earning nine and one save, respectively.

Live stats for the contest can be found here, while a live video of the match can be accessed here.

Print Friendly Version