Streaks End in Setback to #8 CMU

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Fayette, Mo.–In had been nearly a month since the William Penn men’s soccer team had allowed a goal, but once it did the floodgates opened as WPU fell 6-0 to #8 Central Methodist in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Saturday.

The Statesmen (8-2, 3-1 Heart) had two school records snapped in the loss, including a seven-game winning mark as well as 629 minutes of scoreless play dating back to September 1.

The first half of the opening period did not witness much action, but the Eagles (9-1-1, 3-1 Heart), who had just been upset by #23 Benedictine earlier in the week, finally broke through at the 22:49 mark.

The visitors were looking to answer, but instead the hosts doubled the edge less than two minutes later and it only got worse from there. CMU managed to tack on three more scores over the next handful of minutes and led 5-0 at intermission.

The victors, who owned an 18-2 edge in shots, scored once more in the latter stanza to finish off the matchup. At game’s end Miguel Barbosa (Jr., Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sport Management) tallied three saves, while Kenedy Deviska (Fr., Haiti, Wellness and Recreation) and B.J. Gaunt (Jr., Lee’s Summit, Mo., Kinesiology) each recorded one shot.

“This was a very hard game for our players tonight,” Head Coach Jaymee Highcock said. “Central Methodist is one of the best teams in the league; we did not match their intensity and style of soccer and deserved to get beat. I have great faith in this team, though, that we will recover and come back ready for Grand View.”

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Wednesday to host Grand View in Heart play at 7:30 p.m.