Box Score SALINA, Kan. – Today was a day where everything went right for the Southwestern College men's soccer team, who traveled up north to play Kansas Wesleyan University at their home turf in Salina, Kan. An offensive onslaught from the Moundbuilders translated to a 6-1 road victory, which finally notched the first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) triumph of the season for the Moundbuilders.
The game started in favor of the Builders as Mamadou Diarra scored the first goal of the game in the 15th minute to lift the Builders to a 1-0 advantage. Just a few minutes later, Diarra received another chance and scored via an assist by Enock Citenga and Hector Hernandez to improve the lead to 2-0. The brace for Diarra gave him goals number 10 and 11 for the campaign with two regular-season games left to play.
The Builders continued to play with confidence and riddled the Kansas Wesleyan goalkeeper with shots by Hernandez and Diarra. It was the 24th minute when Jack Etheridge scored the third goal of the tilt for the Builders on an assist by Diarra. It was a 3-0 SC lead entering the intermission.
After halftime, the Builders showed the exact same passion and offensive firepower that they showed in the opening stanza. Shots by Diarra, Trevor Avila, and Etheridge helped the Builders to keep pushing offensively.
It was the 62nd minute when Etheridge scored again on a gorgeous assist by Avila. Avila passed the ball through two defenders to Etheridge who pushed the ball past the keeper into the net.
Only a few minutes later in the 65th minute of the game, Hernandez scored the fifth goal for the Builders on a setup by Malvin Mupondi. The Builders, up 5-0, kept the flow going and were able to score another goal in the 74th minute of the game. Coby Stroud scored the sixth and final tally for the Builders on a dish from Diarra for another point on the superstar's line score.
Kansas Wesleyan was able to score a single goal in the 81st minute to make the score a final 6-1, but could not start a comeback, as they waited much too long to have any chance.
Etheridge led the Builders in shots with 5, while Diarra was efficient with two goals on four shots. All four of his shots were on frame. Hernandez had a goal on two shots, while Stroud's tally came on his lone shot of the match.
Jose Macias grabbed his first win of the season, leading the Builders with a seven-save performance between the pipes. He played what was his strongest match of the 2022 season.
The Builders (4-6-5, 1-4-5 KCAC), who won their first KCAC tilt of the season, will now look to start a streak with a pair of regular-season matches left on the slate. Senior Night against Sterling College at Richard L. Jantz Stadium will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26. Then, the final battle of the year for SC will be against the Tabor College Bluejays on Saturday, October 29 in Hillsboro, Kan.
--buildersports.com--
