MOUNT PLEASANT – Albert Michael (Fr.-St. Johns, Antigua) scored with less than two minutes remaining in the match and the Iowa Wesleyan College men’s soccer team opened its 2010 season with a satisfying 1-0 win over Concordia (Neb.) University Saturday afternoon at East Lake Park.
Michael scored after receiving a pass from fellow Antiguan Levor Henry (Sr.-St. Johns, Antigua), hitting the back of the net with just 1:45 remaining in regulation time for the only score of the match. The win made for a victorious first game as coach for Shane Taylor, who took over the program in the spring, replacing Ed Heberling.
The Tigers outshot the Bulldogs 18-6, including a 9-4 edge in shots on goal. Chris Matthews (So.-Toronto, Ontario) and Pierre Bruggeman (Jr.-Kortenberg, Belgium) keyed the offensive attack, combining for 11 shots and six shots on goal in the match.
Idris Labaran (Fr.-Matteson, Ill.) played all 90 minutes in goal for IWC and picked up his first collegiate win and first collegiate shutout. Chris Podlich made eight saves in the loss for Concordia, which dropped to 0-1-1 on the season. The Bulldogs played at IWC rival William Penn University on Friday night, finishing in a 0-0 tie with the Statesmen.
Wesleyan next will play in the Calumet (Ind.) College Crimson Wave Classic over Labor Day weekend in Schererville, Ind. The Tigers open on Saturday against Notre Dame (Ohio) College at 4:30 p.m., and then will face either Calumet or Marygrove (Mich.) College on Sunday.
For more information regarding the IWC soccer programs or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
Box score IWC 1 Concordia (Neb.) 0
