BUCKHANNON — West Virginia Wesleyan College forward Max Evans entered the match in the middle of the first half and quickly found the net twice to post for the game’s first two goals in a 5-1 victory over visiting Frostburg State University Wednesday evening.
Evans first goal in the 29th minute came when Dillon Rajkovic carried 30-plus yards down the left side and sent a cross that skittered past Frostburg State keeper Joel Assal to the foot of Evans who tapped the ball home from eight yards out.
Evans scored again less than three minutes later (31:02) after a free kick from Frostburg State in the Wesleyan left-side defensive half looped to goalkeeper Logan Nelson who punched it forward. The ball landed on Sam Newell’s foot and he volleyed to center where Evans took the ball away from a solo defender who had slipped. A 55-yard open sprint to the 18-yard stripe ended with a shot past Assal who stood all alone.
Wesleyan midfielder John Hollis scored his first goal of his career in the closing minutes of the first half when Sinasi Emre Deniz delivered the ball down the right side and into the box where Hollis crushed a shot past Assal to the far post corner.
Deniz posted his 10th goal of the year just two minutes after Frostburg’s Kevin Garcia-Torres scored shortly into the second half (47th minute). Hollis touched a scramble inside the penalty box to Deniz and he took advantage of an out-of-position Assal.
Evans wrapped the game with a hat trick goal in the 80th minute when he found himself between two defenders six yards out. Ridley Braid, running down the left wing, saw Evans waiting and delivered a perfect cross that Evans buried.
“Offensively we were brilliant, start to finish, and we’ve been that way for a few games and I couldn’t be happier for max getting his first career hat trick, and John Hollis getting the first goal of his career,” said head coach Josh Spencer. “I’m proud of the team and know that we’ll keep working hard to get better.”
On Sunday, Oct. 22, the Bobcats will travel to the University of Charleston, currently ranked #4 in the nation, for what could be the match of the year. Charleston has one loss on its record and that was to Wesleyan in their first meeting back on Sept. 10 by the score of 2-1. The match starts at 4 p.m. at the Welch Athletic Complex.
