FULTON, Mo. - For the second straight week, William Woods lost its race against severe weather in a quest to get through 90 minutes in its men's soccer match, but unlike last week, the lightning struck late enough in the second half to allow the game to go in the books as official. Six different Owls scored in the match as WWU (7-3-1) bested Baptist Bible College (0-7) by a 6-0 scoreline.
Luis Pinto opened the scoring in the fifth minute for William Woods on a quick restart, as
Florian Senst drew a free kick just outside the penalty area. Senst saw the opportunity to send Pinto into space, with the midfielder sending a rocket to the far post.
TJ Mathias-Nwaulune doubled the lead for the Owls in the 23rd minute with his first career goal.
Ben Lachaize lofted a cross into the box to find Mathias-Nwaulune, but the freshman was knocked off the ball by the Patriots defender recovering to the play. As the ball bounced toward the end line, Mathias-Nwaulune reacted quickly and his pressure forced a whiff on the clearance by BBC, and the Owls forward blasted a right-footer near post.
Nico Martinez Labra and
Sam Allen scored to send WWU into the halftime break up 4-0, with Martinez Labra finessing a shot into the top right corner and Allen blasting a shot through the legs of Patriots keeper Zach Jamison.
As the storm clouds built around Fulton, the teams returned to the pitch and tried to get the match in the books.
Sam Gonzalez notched his first goal of the season in the 48th minute, collecting a pass from
Rodrigo Franco on the run and slotting the ball far post.
Breck McGrail closed out the scoring for WWU with a marvel strike, as Senst nodded a Gonzalez cross back across the mouth of goal to the Jefferson City, Mo., junior. McGrail chested the ball into space as he tracked back, then ripped a bicycle kick into the right side of goal.
Woods posted 16 shots on goal in its non-conference finale, allowing just one for Baptist Bible College, as
Justin Sharkey and Matt Dvorak split time in the shutout.
The Owls head to UHSP to open AMC play, with the match set for a noon kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 30.
