SALINA, Kan. --- The McPherson College men's soccer team outshot Kansas Wesleyan University, 20-8, but came out on the short end of a 2-0 decision in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) opener for both schools Wednesday at the Graves Family Sports Complex.
The Coyotes (4-4, 1-0 KCAC) gained an early advantage in the sixth minute as Luke Walters beat Bulldog keeper
Aaron Parrott (Wichita, Kan.) after Parrott made a late challenge on a breakaway attempt. Evan Williams was credited with an assist.
McPherson (4-2-1, 0-1 KCAC) had its chances in the contest.
David Mwinga (Santa Rosa, Calif.) had a back-heel flick go just wide of the right post in the 19th minute, then
Christopher Kelly (Glasgow, Scotland) missed just wide of the left post five minutes later. Kelly and
Nick Torres (McPherson, Kan.) also combined for a three-shot flurry over nine seconds in the 40th minute but saw two shots blocked by defenders before Kelly sent a shot wide of the mark.
The Bulldogs continued to be aggressive with possession in the second half. In the 69th minute, McPherson got a pair of shots in the box off a Kelly corner kick only to see both saved by KWU keeper Fauris Franco. Another corner kick followed in the sequence, but the Bulldogs were turned away without a shot. Kansas Wesleyan regrouped and immediately went on the offensive, taking a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes to play as Michiel Nijsten scored off a cross from Jesse Lennon.
McPherson held a 20-8 advantage in shots, including 11-4 in the second half. Only five found their way on frame, however, and all were turned away by Franco en route to recording a clean sheet. Torres had a team-high five shots, including two of McPherson's five shots on goal, while
Brayam De La Cruz (Bellevue, Idaho) and
Jesus Pescador (Valencia, Calif.) tallied four shots apiece. Kelly added three shots and Mwinga two.
Richard Perez had three shots to lead Kansas Wesleyan, which had just three shots on goal.
"To go down on the road like that after we spent all week preparing for the long ball defensively is [disappointing]," said head coach
Doug Quint. "We have to be better defensively regardless of how our offense is playing. We just can't seem to knock the lid off the goal. We created 20 shots again in the run of play and had the ball most of the game but once again came up empty. Credit Kansas Wesleyan for the defensive work they did tonight."
The Bulldogs return home to face Sterling College (3-3-2, 0-0-1 KCAC) in another KCAC matchup at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Kennel in McPherson.Â
