Men’s Soccer Ends Year with 2-0 Loss to Top Seed
William Penn University Athletics
Baldwin City, Kan.–The Statesmen men’s soccer team cut Baker’s goal scoring in half from its first meeting just six days ago, but unfortunately the team was again shut down as 2015 ended with a 2-0 setback to the top seed in the quarterfinals of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament Friday.
William Penn (8-10-1), the #8 seed in the tourney, did not have an answer for two goals permitted in the 12th and 35th minutes. The #4 ranked Wildcats (16-2-1), who outshot the navy and gold 20-8, were blanked after intermission, however, as the visitors came up with a couple more scoring opportunities.
One of six seniors to end his career Friday night, Angelo Kelly (Ottumwa, Iowa, Physical Education) paced the Statesmen with three shot attempts. Fellow senior Sergio Carro (London, England, Communications) added two shots as did Facundo Benitez (Jr., Buenos Aires, Argentina, Business Management).
Max Stamer (Fr., Salzgitter, Germany, Secondary Education) stopped five BU kicks in the loss.
The loss ends the collegiate careers of Carro, Santiago Coraglia (Salta, Argentina, Engineering Technology), Ben Creeger (Phoenix, Ariz., Business Management), Kelly, Loong Ly (London, England, Physical Education), and Andrew Valett (Davenport, Iowa, Physical Education).
“I am very proud of the way our men performed this season,” Head Coach Jaymee Highcock said. “The aim was to win more games than last season and to reach the conference tournament and we did both. We beat Grand View, a ranked team, for the first time in over a decade, managed the program’s highest MRPI ranking in its history, and scored the most goals in recent history.”
“The squad will learn lots from this season and we will continue to get better all the time; William Penn will be an even stronger program next year,” Highcock added. “I want to thank all of the seniors for the effort and quality they have given to the program; they will certainly be missed and have a bright future in whatever they choose to do. I also want to thank all the staff, players, and fans for their sacrifices. We will continue to work hard and take this team to the next level. Proud, but not satisfied. Go Statesmen!”
