OWENSBORO, KY. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's soccer team opened the 2019 season emphatically on Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over Brescia University. The Panthers retained possession of the Mayor's Cup in the process. The win also marks the first season-opening victory since the 2011 season.
The Panthers (1-0) were put on the defensive to start, but a break away 20 minutes into the match saw
Anatoli Gishe get taken down in the box, allowing
Ben Protheroe a penalty kick. Protheroe converted with ease through the top of the net.
Wesleyan held its 1-0 into the end of the half, but quickly provided a cushion. Ten minutes into the frame,
Austin Pfeffer found
Josh Barnett curling through the middle of the Bearcats' (0-5) zone. Barnett connected with his first goal of the season through the left side of the net.
With the Panthers still on the offensive in the 65
th minute, Protheroe converted again, this time from the left side of the box. Gishe found Protheroe who booted a right-to-left shot into the top right corner of the Bearcats' net.
Brescia added a score in the 78
th minute, but had no answer for the Panthers' defense and ability to hold possession. Wesleyan's keeper,
Lucas Daunhauer, made six saves to earn his first victory of the season.
The Panthers will travel to Oakland City, Indiana next week to play Mighty Oaks in another non-conference affair. The match is scheduled to start at 4 PM CT.
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