From Washington University Athletics
The No. 12-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's soccer team prepped for its 2016 conference opener with a 4-0 win at Greenville College Monday in Greenville, Ill.
WashU improved to 6-0 with the win, while Greenville fell to 3-6-1. WashU is off to a 6-0 start for the first time since 2011.
The shutout for WashU was its sixth of the season, and the Bears are the only team in all NCAA Divisions who have yet to allow a goal.
Graduate student Ike Witte had two goals and an assist in the win for WashU, who outshot Greenville 40-4.
Graduate student Jack West was taken down in the box in the 17th minute and converted the penalty kick to give WashU the early 1-0 advantage. The goal for West was his second of the season and 16th of his career.
The Bears controlled play during the first half and outshot Greenville 20-3.
With six new starters on the field for the second half, it took WashU just eight minutes to push the lead 2-0 after Witte buried a cross from senior Corey Meehan into the back of the net.
The Bears pushed the advantage to 3-0 in the 61st minute when Witte converted a penalty kick after sophomore Eddie Wintergalen was taken down in the box. Sophomore Marc VandenBerg rounded out the scoring with a goal in the 64th minute.
Senior goalkeepers Nick Tannenbaum (45 minutes) and Daniel Geanon (45 minutes, one save) combined to post the shutout.
WashU opens University Athletic Association (UAA) play Saturday, Oct. 1, at No. 10-ranked University of Rochester (6-0-1). Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series against Greenville 22-3-1, and the Bears have won nine-straight meetings … Head coach Joe Clarke picked up career win number 428 … WashU is one of seven undefeated teams remaining in Division III … The Bears have outscored their opponents 15-0 this season.