MOUNT PLEASANT – The Iowa Wesleyan College men’s and women’s soccer teams saw both of their seasons end with matching 4-0 losses to Viterbo (Wis.) University Saturday afternoon at East Lake Park.
The two teams wrapped up tough campaigns with the women’s team finishing 1-15-1 overall, 0-8 in Midwest Collegiate Conference play and the men winding up 2-13-1, 0-7-1 in conference. Both teams finished ninth in the MCC standings and will not qualify for their respective conference tournaments, which both only take the top eight teams in the conference.
Viterbo controlled the women’s match from the start but the Tigers were ready to go to halftime trailing by just a goal until the V-Hawks were awarded and converted a penalty kick less than four minutes before halftime. The visitors outshot IWC 16-3 in the first half but goalkeeper Cara Arnold (Jr.-Davis Junction, Ill.) made six saves and Stephanie Tener (Fr.-Riverside, Iowa) also cleared a shot on goal just before it crossed the line.
The V-Hawks added two more goals in the first portion of the second half, scoring in the 60th and 69th minutes. The Tigers made a few more offensive runs in the second half but finished with just three shots on goal and nine shots in the game.
Three different goalkeepers combined for the shutout for Viterbo, while Arnold made 11 saves for IWC. The V-Hawks outshot the Tigers 25-9, and Brittney Moss (Jr.-Genoa, Ill.) led Wesleyan with five shots, two on goal. The match was the final one for seniors Jessica Cheeley (Burlington, Iowa) and Maria Figueroa (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) and Jacki Isham (Jr.-Stillman Valley, Ill.), a senior academically who is on schedule to graduate in the spring.
The men’s match started with IWC in possession much of the first 30 minutes but unable to take advantage of several good scoring chances. The V-Hawks did the exact opposite, taking advantage of rare opportunities with a pair of goals in the first 15 minutes for a 2-0 lead
Viterbo added a third goal of its own in the second half when Scott Henderson scored on a penalty kick in the 60th minute. The V-Hawks’ final goal was an own goal deflected in by the Tigers with 14 seconds left in the match.
IWC outshot Viterbo 9-8, but the Tigers put just one shot on goal to four for the V-Hawks. Chris Matthews (So.-Toronto, Ontario) had the shot on goal, while Troy Osborne (Jr.-Sydney, Australia) made the only save in goal for the Tigers. It was the final match for Wesleyan seniors Reinaldo Hall (Trincity, Trinidad & Tobago) and Levor Henry (St. Johns, Antigua).
Box score Women Viterbo 4 IWC 0
Box score Men Viterbo 4 IWC 0
