BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Three first-half goals gave the Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team plenty of offense in a 3-0 win over Rockford University Friday night, Sept. 13, under the lights at Neis Field. The Titans remain unbeaten on the year with the win, upping their record to 3-0-1, while the Regents dropped to 0-5-0.
With an unblemished record through four matches, Illinois Wesleyan is out to its best start since 2012. That year, the Green and White won its first six games en route to an 11-win campaign. Additionally, the 3-nil win marked the third straight shutout for the Titans. It is the first time IWU has posted three clean sheets in-a-row since Sept. 15-29, 2018 when the Green and White notched four consecutive shutouts (Grinnell 4-0; Earlham 6-0; Webster 2-0; Wheaton 1-0).
All of the offense came in the first 26 minutes of play as the Titans jumped ahead and never looked back.
After a few strong chances, Illinois Wesleyan took full advantage of a free kick halfway between the box and midfield in the ninth minute. Senior Mush Bakirdan (Morton, Ill.-Morton) stepped the ball for the delivery and sent a perfectly placed cross into the center of the box, where sophomore
Faheem Mujahid (Saint Robert, Mo.-Waynesville) headed the service into the back of the net.
The Regents appeared to have cleared the Titans corner attempt, but sophomore Will Eiss (Rockton, Ill.-Hononegah Community) stepped in near midfield and booted a ball towards the far post. The initial attempt by senior
Devyn Kennedy (Edwardsville, Ill.-Edwardsville) caught the crossbar, but sophomore
Ryder Coleman (Bannockburn, Ill.-Deerfield) cleaned it up with an outstretched one-timer from the six to double the IWU lead, 2-nil, at the 24:13 mark.
Kennedy and Coleman teamed up again just over a minute later, as Kennedy found himself with the ball down the wing. Using a quick touch, Kennedy beat his defender and put a ball right on the foot of Coleman, who snuck a shot inside the far post. The goal, which came in the 26th minute, upped the lead to 3-0.
In all, IWU tallied a 33-7 lead in shots which included a 17-4 advantage in shots on goal. IWU garnered a season-high 14 corners to RU's one. Junior goalkeeper Sam Kedzior (Cary, Ill.-Cary Grove) made four saves in the seventh shutout of his career.
The Titans continue their five-game home stretch with another non-conference bout Wednesday, Sept. 18, against Monmouth University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Neis Field.
