FULTON, Mo. - Battling through dreary conditions throughout the match, William Woods (4-3-1) held off former AMC foe Lyon College (1-4) to earn a 2-1 victory to start the week.
Miles Andrews had goals on either side of halftime for the Woods, with both coming off assists by
Breck McGrail.
Lyon found a goal in the fifth minute, as Daniel Pasztor slotted the ball in on the far post on a counterattack. Martin Esquivel played the ball back across the mouth of the goal from the right side and Pasztor converted the tap-in.
An alert play by Owls goalkeeper
Matt Dworak set up the equalizer for WWU in the 13th minute on a blistering counterattack. Lyon had earned a corner kick on the far side of the pitch, and Dworak charged out to collect the inswinging effort. Spotting McGrail downfield, Dworak quickly sent a booming punt that was nodded on by McGrail to Andrews. Andrews chested the ball back to McGrail, who accelerated into space on the dribble and slotted a pass right in the stride of Andrews, who left Lyon's goalkeeper sprawling hopelessly in the box.
Nico Martinez Labra nearly found net for the Owls in the 29th minute, as WWU earned a free kick 30 yards out from the left post. Martinez and
Pedro Salmon initially lined up together, before Salmon slowly drifted toward the left touchline. Martinez sized up the three-man Lyon wall and curled a rocket toward the top corner, with Adryan Ledezma needing every inch of his 5-11 frame to barely parry the ball over the crossbar for a corner kick.
Coming out of halftime, Lyon controlled the momentum early, chasing a game-winner but it would be WWU's Jeff City connection - with a dash of German spice - that would claim victory on the night. After a WWU throw-in, Lyon briefly won the ball and tried to clear the pressure, but it only went as far as the center circle where it was headed back toward the Scots goal. WWU played out wide to Salmon who sprung
David Fink with a low pass down the left side. A sliding attempt from McGrail was short, but the redirection fell perfectly to the feet of Andrews on the back post for the brace in the 82nd minute.
Andrews nearly completed the hat trick in the 89th minute for WWU, but was unable to win the 1-on-1 battle with Ledezma this time.
Lyon found itself with one final opportunity to claw back a tie as they earned a free kick in a dangerous spot 35 yards out, but the visitors struggled to get on the same page offensively and the effort sailed harmlessly wide as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
William Woods takes its shortest road trip of the season on Wednesday night, journeying across town to take on Westminster College. Kickoff for the #WestWoods Derby is set for 7:30 p.m.
