Box Score JACKSON, TN. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's soccer team got their first win of the season on Friday evening over Union University. The Panthers saw their Tuesday match canceled due to extreme heat, but the temperature did not phase the Wesleyan on Friday as they picked-up a 2-1 victory on the road. Carter Ford and Jersey Lopez each scored in the win while Matteo Graniero was clutch in goal down the stretch. 
 
The fast-paced Panther offense came out swinging taking three early shots while the Bulldogs struggled to find a shot on target. Mattie McNally put the first shot on target in the sixth minute while Lopez and Ford each took shots in the first seven minutes of the match. The Panthers continued to apply pressure and in the 25^th minute Jhaeem Bryan started it all by moving the ball to midfield, Bryan found McNally headed towards the Bulldogs' goal. After a tussle for possession, McNally got the ball to Carter Ford in stride who converted the first goal of the match into the corner of the net. 
 
The Panthers held the 1-0 advantage at the break. Wesleyan took seven shots, including four on goal in the first 45 minutes. In the second half Niclas Peranitsch scored the equalizer in the 53^rd minute. Graniero seemingly had Peranitsch defended perfectly, but his shot to the far side of the net hit the post and went into the goal. 
 
The continued pressure did not stop despite the Bulldogs finding the tying goal. Bryan missed a header off a corner kick in the 67^th minute and then saw another shot in the 68^th minute just miss the target. 
 
In the 74^th minute, Braeden Myers-Curry got loose again in front of the Bulldogs' goal and was taken down, preventing a scoring opportunity. However, a yellow card allowed Jersey Lopez a chance to break the tie. His penalty kick, snuck into the bottom left corner of the net for the game-winner. 
 
Despite the short time, there was still some dramatics in the final 15 minutes. The Panthers had more chances to tack-on in the end, but were determine to come away with a complete win. In the final moments, Graniero was caught in traffic and a deflection had the ball going to an unattended net, but a defensive block kept the Panthers in front. Then in the final seconds Freddie Westfall had a chance to tie the match, but Graniero made his seventh and final save of the night. 
 
McNally finished with an assist and five shots, two on goal. In total the Panthers tallied 21 shots, Ford accounted for four of them, including a goal. 
 
The Panthers will open Great Midwest action in Owensboro against Lake Erie College on Thursday. The match at Panther Field is scheduled to start at 7:30PM. 
 
Visit kwcpanthers.com/give today to make a gift to Kentucky Wesleyan Athletics! Gifts can be directed to general athletics, our athletic endowment, or any of our 14 NCAA Division II programs.

Stay up to date on all your Panther news by following @KWCPanthers on X and Instagram and by liking the "Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics" Facebook page. Also, the Panthers Mobile App is available on iTunes and Android, featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details, and more.