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SCORE: @USI 6, KWC 0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern of Southern Indiana men's soccer team was solid gold in the second annual "Gold Game", defeating Kentucky Wesleyan College, 6-0, Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field. USI, which wore gold jerseys and shoelaces to promote awareness of pediatric cancer, rises to 1-0-1 to begin the fall, while KWC falls to 0-2-0.
In addition to the victory, the "Gold Game" raised $435 from wrist bands and gold shoelace sales to benefit the Go4theGoal organization, which will in turn help pediatric cancer support groups in the area.
The Screaming Eagles took a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half. Senior midfielder
Corey Fundenberger (Lebanon, Indiana) gave USI the eventual game winner at 32:32 when he sent a rocket into the back of the KWC goal on a restart.
USI increased the margin to 2-0 when junior forward
Caleb Mathers (Clarkston, Michigan) scored on a breakaway with 24 seconds left before halftime. Mathers collected a pass from senior defender
John Rohling (Nashville, Tennessee) at midfield and streaked down the middle of the field, beating a defender and the goalkeeper.
Eagles' sophomore defender
Josh Weinzapfel (Evansville, Indiana) ignited a four- goal second half by scoring twice in the first five minutes after halftime. Weinzapfel converted on his first goal at 46:46 off a pass in front of the box from senior midfielder
Miles Durham (Madisonville, Kentucky), while his second goal was unassisted and came at 48:26 when he stole the ball in front of the KWC goal and scored.
USI senior midfielder
Alex Jenison (Evansville, Indiana) increased the lead to 5-0 with a goal at 69:29 off a pass from senior midfielder
Nick DeSalvatore (Brentwood, Tennessee). Mathers finished the offensive explosion with his second tally of the game at 81:39 to give the Eagles the 6-0 final.
Mather's second goal came off a crossing pass from junior midfielder
Colton Tanner (Alexandria, Kentucky).
On the defensive side of the field, the Eagles completed their second-straight shutout of the season. USI has not posted back-to-back shutouts in a season since 2008.
Senior goalkeeper
Jeffrey Neidlinger (Carmel, Indiana) recorded the shutout for the Eagles, making three saves in the victory. Neidlinger has been perfect in his first 200 minutes between the posts to start the year.
Overall, USI outshot KWC 27-4 and held the advantage in corner kicks, 2-1.
The Eagles conclude their short two-game homestand Friday at 7:30 p.m. when they kick off the 2013 GLVC schedule against the University of Illinois Springfield. The USI women's soccer team start the GLVC doubleheader at 5 p.m.
