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Ben Lyons Goal Celly
0
Kalamazoo KMZ (2-3-0, 0-0-0)
1
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU (4-0-1, 0-0-0)
Kalamazoo KMZ
(2-3-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
1
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
(4-0-1, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Kalamazoo KMZ 0 0 0
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Blanks Kalamazoo in Home Opener

Kedzior shines with first shutout of the year

BLOOMINGTON, Ill- The Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team needed just one goal to remain unbeaten Saturday, Sept. 13 with a 1-nil victory over Kalamazoo College at Neis Field. The Titans improve to 5-0-1, while Kalamazoo drops under .500 at 2-3-0. 

Illinois Wesleyan took an early lead and carried it the rest of the way thanks to sophomore Ben Lyons (Orland Park, Ill-Carl Sandburg). In the third minute, junior Joey Rodino (Palatine, Ill-Fremd) volleyed the ball into the box, Lyons corralled it and lifted a right foot boot past the goalkeeper into the back of the net. 

The rest of the first period witnessed a dominant Titan defense that gave up just four shots in the game. 

The aggressive Titan offense kept pressure on the Hornet defense, but Kalamazoo did not back down. IWU led a charge downfield with Lyons joined by senior Logan Tierney (Bloomington, Ill-Normal Community). Lyons attempted a shot that was blocked, but a second effort from Tierney gave IWU another chance before a group of Hornets stepped in for a team save to wash away the likely goal.

Illinois Wesleyan filled the stat sheet with 14 shots which filtered scoring chances that were withstood by the Orange and Black. Lyons recorded four shots, two coming on free kicks that were denied. 

The stellar Titan defense was backed by senior captain Nick McCully (Peoria, Ill-Richwoods), junior Jackson Colman (Pfluegerville, Texas- Cedar Park), and senior Kalabi Kamau (Alpharetta, Ga.-Marist). Senior goalkeeper Sam Kedzior (Cary, Ill-Cary-Grove) recorded his best game of the season with two saves, and was in the Hornet passing lanes to deny any scoring chances.

The competitive match was feisty, featuring five yellow cards, two from Illinois Wesleyan, and three from Kalamazoo.

The Green and White tallied seven shots on goal, compared to four total, two on goal, for the Orange and Black. 

In the midst of a five game homestand, Illinois Wesleyan will welcome Illinois College Wednesday, Sept. 17. The midweek battle at Neis Field is set to kickoff at 5 p.m.
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