CALIFORNIA, Pa.—The West Virginia Wesleyan (1-0-0) men’s soccer team came out hot with a 3-0 season-opening victory over California (Pa.) (0-1-0) on Thursday (Aug. 25) evening.
Freshman Sam Newell’s WVWC debut was a three-point performance that included a goal and an assist. The Nottingham, England native got himself on the end of a deflection and beat the goalkeeper with an unbelievable strike to the right corner in the 17th minute to open up his account.
Cal conceded a free kick seconds before the half was over. Newell stepped over the set-piece and delivered a ball right to the head of defender Jaime Razo for the second goal of the half. The ‘Cats led 2-0 after 45 minutes of action.
Wesleyan took the momentum back on the pitch for the second half. In the 62nd minute, Sinasi Emre Deniz threaded his way between two defenders and did not hesitate to place the ball past the keeper and open up his account for the year. That was all the Bobcats needed to seal the road victory and give first-year head coach Josh Spencer his first collegiate win as a manager.
The Bobcats’ defense, led by three returning defenders and goalkeeper, Razo, Charlie Naylor, Luis Diaz and Logan Nelson, were able to keep their first clean sheet of the season after an outstanding performance. California (Pa.) registered only one shot on target for the night.
The Bobcats are back in action on Wednesday, Aug. 31 when they host the Battlers from Alderson Broaddus at Culpepper Stadium. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
