Daniel Smazil’s Brace Powers Titans Past Beavers

Men’s soccer dominates to remain unbeaten

9/10/2025 6:55:00 PM

Box Score

CARLINVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team boasted an impressive 4-1 win over Blackburn College Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Blackburn Soccer Fields. The Titans improve to 3-0-1, while the Beavers fall to 3-2-0.

The Titans took an early advantage in the 19th minute when junior Ryder Coleman (Bannockburn,Ill-Deerfield) received a pass from sophomore Ben Lyons (Orland Park,Ill-Carl Sandburg) and zipped one past the goalkeeper from the top of the box to score his second goal of the season.

The match stayed that way over the next 17 minutes, before IWU stretched its lead to 2-nil when freshman Daniel Smazil (Downers Grove,Ill-Downers Grove South) capitalized on his first of two goals, assisted by senior Logan Tierney (Bloomington,Ill-Normal Community).

Poised to tack on more goals, junior Matthew Perchik (Glenview,Ill-New Trier) cashed in on an opportunity from sophomore Gavin Young (Bloomington-Ill-Central Catholic), out of the halftime break. Illinois Wesleyan took a commanding 3-nil lead when Perchik scooted one to the left side of the net.

Blackburn did not go down without a fight, as it cut into the Titan lead when Antonio Baca connected on his first goal of the year to make it 3-1 in the 70th minute.

The freshman duo of Will Smucker (Park Ridge,Ill-Maine South) and Daniel Smazil combined for the Titans final goal. In the 71st minute of the contest, Smazil received a pass from his freshman counterpart and booted one from 20 yards out, past the goalkeeper to the left side of the net for an insurance goal.

With all three collecting points, and two out of the three scoring goals, Smazil, Perchik, and Lyons now share the team lead in goals.

IWU finished with a 14-9 lead in shots, including an 11-3 edge in shots on target. Blackburn ended the match with five yellow cards, while the Titans finished with two.

Illinois Wesleyan will return to action as it welcomes Kalamazoo College to Neis Field this Saturday, Sept. 13. It will be the Titans first home game of the season with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.

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