MOUNT VERNON – Michael Roberts (Sr.-St. John’s, Antigua) scored a career-high three goals and the Iowa Wesleyan College men’s soccer team got its first win in four tries with a 5-1 win at Cornell College Tuesday afternoon.
The Tigers opened the match up with three goals in the second half to improve to 1-3 this season and stay unbeaten in five tries all-time against the Rams. Cornell remained winless on the season at 0-3.
Roberts scored the first two goals of the match to stake the Tigers to an early 2-0 lead, including the opening goal just over three minutes into the match when he headed in a corner kick from Scott Ballingall (Fr.-Perth, Scotland). He added another goal in the 21st minute assisted by Jake Pilger (Sr.-Burlington, Iowa).
The Rams got back in the match when Ryan Walden scored in the 40th minute to make it 2-1. The score remained that way until Pilger opened up a two-goal advantage again with an unassisted goal at the 59:23 mark making it 3-1.
Roberts scored his third goal in the 77th minute, an unassisted marker and his fifth goal of the season. IWC tacked on a final goal in the final minute when Jesus Soto (So.-Rockton, Ill.) scored with an assist from Emil Yazdani (Sr.-Buenos Aires, Argentina).
Troy Osborne (So.-Sydney, Australia) had to make just two saves to get his first win of the year in goal for Wesleyan. Ben Alleva made three saves in 90 minutes for Cornell.
The Tigers are back home on Friday at 4 p.m. to face Truman State (Mo.) University at East Lake Park. IWC also will play Central Methodist (Mo.) University on Saturday at 4 p.m., also at East Lake Park.
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 5 Cornell 1
