From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
The Case Western Reserve University men's soccer team won its home opener over The College of Wooster on Sunday evening at DiSanto Field in Cleveland, scoring twice in each half to claim a 4-1 win.
The Spartans improved to 2-0-0 on the young campaign, while the Fighting Scots fell to 0-1-1. CWRU has not lost a home match since October 31, 2021, either tying or winning its last nine matches at DiSanto Field.
Case Western Reserve scored twice early in the contest to open up a quick 2-0 lead. Just 89 seconds in, first-year midfielder Sean Wilson scored his first collegiate goal with an assist from senior defender Alex Lippiatt. Lippiatt placed a corner kick into the box past a few Spartans and Fighting Scots that landed at the feet of Wilson. The first year fired a one-timer past the goalkeeper from the far post to put CWRU ahead 1-0. The senior earned his fourth career assist on the play.
Just five minutes later, senior midfielder Matt Vatne drew a penalty in the box and converted from the spot for his first goal of the campaign and the 14th of his career.
In the 36th minute, Wooster was able to halve the deficit, scoring on a goal by Aris Christodoulou. The goal was the first allowed this season by the Spartans and first-year goalkeeper Bradley Winter.
Early in the second half, CWRU regained its two-goal lead with the second score in as many matches for senior midfielder Jacob Salmon. He beat a defender and the Wooster goalkeeper to a bouncing ball at the top of the box and managed to get just enough on a shot from the far post to put the ball into the empty net. Salmon netted his second goal of the season and the sixth of his career.
Junior forward Kysen Kroeger put the win away in the 81st minute, scoring his first goal of the season with an assist from sophomore midfielder Camden Larson. Larson played a through ball into the middle of the field at the top of the box, and Kroeger fired a shot past the goalkeeper to put the Spartans ahead by three with less than 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
Despite losing by three goals, Wooster held a 15-11 advantage in shots. However, only three of the visitors' shots were on target, while CWRU put seven on frame. Vatne led the Spartans with three shots, including a team-high two on target, with Wilson and sophomore forward McLaren Baggett each adding two. Winter earned his second win of the season to improve to 2-0-0, saving two shots.