Statesmen Start League Play with Shutout of Clarke

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s soccer team thoroughly dominated its Heart of America Athletic Conference opener with a 3-0 victory over Clarke Wednesday.

WPU (6-1, 1-0 Heart) was in total control from the first whistle, peppering the goal to the tune of a 24-5 advantage in shots (16-0 in the first half). Unfortunately, none of those tries found the netting before intermission.

That all changed in the beginning minutes of the second period as Amgad Hassan (Jr., Falls Church, Va., Computer Science) headed home a cross from Bernardo Lima (Fr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Exercise Science). The goal is Hassan’s second, while the assist is the first of Lima’s collegiate career.

The margin doubled in the 73rd minute with help from the Pride (2-4, 0-1 Heart). The visitors unsuccessfully tried to clear an attack by the Statesmen, instead knocking the ball into their own goal.

The third and final goal came at the 79:41 mark when Victor Hernandez (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Exercise Science) put a head on a crossing pass from Shalon Knight (Fr., Swetes Village, Antigua). Hernandez now has two goals this fall; Knight’s helper is his first in the navy and gold.

Miguel Barbosa (Jr., Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sport Management) only faced five shots, saving two of them for his fifth shutout of the year.

With the triumph, the program is off to its best seven-game start in school history.

“This was a fantastic performance by our team,” Head Coach Jaymee Highcock said. “Although we did not score as many goals as we could have, it was still some of the best soccer we have played in my WPU tenure. It was great fun to watch.”

“We add this victory to the list and look forward to continuing to improve and adding more wins,” Highcock added.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Springfield, Mo. Saturday to face Evangel in Heart action at 4:30 p.m.