FULTON, Mo. -
Pedro Salmon scored (RV) William Woods University's (7-2-4, 3-0 American Midwest Conference) match-deciding goal in the 24th minute, his third straight and the third of his college career, and
Lubos Polacko found the back of the net on his Senior Day, as the Owls shut out (RV) Williams Baptist University (4-3-4, 0-2) 2-0 Saturday at North Campus Athletic Complex.
"We defended well and maintained patience in our build-up," William Woods men's soccer coach
Tommy Nienhaus said. "Pedro scored another great goal, and Lubos scored a typical Lubos goal that helped seal the win. A great way to celebrate Senior Day!"
Unlike their first two games this week, the Owls played stout defense and outshot their opponent; WWU had 14 shots (six on goal) to the Eagles' eight shots (two on goal). Three of the Owls' seniors were in the starting lineup:
Sam Gonzalez,
Omar Murillo and
Nico Martinez Labra, who tallied a team-high two shots on goal.
"I can't say enough about this group of seniors," Nienhaus said. "While I didn't recruit them, they're my adopted class, and four years ago, with the help of the previous classes (you know who you are), they set the tone for where we are now. They were asked to do more and be more every year, and they've risen to the challenge. They kept raising the standard and have done so in such a positive way.
"The best example is how these seniors treat their teammates, handle adversity (considering the injuries), and demand excellence without making excuses. It's a privilege and honor to have worked with them. I'm so proud!"
In a tight first half, with each team recording four shots, host William Woods made the most of its chances.
Salmon, the greatest showman after he scored two goals in the final eight minutes to secure a 2-2 draw versus No. 22 Central Methodist University Thursday, put on his second act of the week, netting what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 24th minute, when he took a shot from the left side of the penalty box and slotted it into the opposite post of the net.
The Owls held a 1-0 advantage at halftime thanks to Salmon's goal. They applied more pressure on Williams Baptist's defense in the second half, posting 10 shots to the Eagles' four.
Polacko got his Senior Day goal in the 69th minute when he took an accurate pass from
Benjamin Lachaize and tapped his shot into the net to cap the offense, as Woods pleased its home crowd in its two-goal shutout victory.
The Eagles played the final 12 minutes of the match with 10 men after Henrico Zena was sent off with a straight red card.
Matthew Dworak (4-2-2) earned the win between the posts for the Owls, stopping two shots in as many attempts to register his third shutout this season.
Speaking of three, William Woods is 3-0 in the AMC for the first time since 2018, when it finished 9-1-1 in conference play. Making what they've done this season more impressive, the Owls held their opponents scoreless in all 270:00 of play while outscoring them 8-0; the Owls' 2018 team outscored its first three AMC opponents 5-2, with their two conceded goals coming against a team no longer in the AMC and a college soccer rule no longer around as they won 3-2 in double overtime at Freed-Hardeman University.
William Woods has the stiffest test of its AMC schedule on paper up next, with a trip to nearby Columbia for a match against rival No. 16 Columbia College (7-2-2, 2-0 AMC) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at R. Marvin Owens Field. A victory for the Owls could be enough to put them in the next NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll, released Oct. 23.
