SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Opening the season with a four-game road swing is a daunting task for any team, especially when the first game is against a 2023 NAIA National Championship qualifier picked to finish first in its conference and receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll. William Woods (1-0) rose to the challenge with ease on Thursday night, with
Charlie Williams snatching a pair of goals in a 4-2 win over (RV) Briar Cliff University.
"Briar Cliff are a solid team and played until the end," said head coach
Tommy Nienhaus. "This was a critical opportunity to learn to play a full 90 minutes. Several players got minutes and couldn't have played a better first half. Our composure in the second was lacking as was evident by several cautions, but it's a great first game to build from. Proud of our effort!"
The Chargers came out on the front foot, earning three corner kicks in the first five minutes along with a solid chance on goal in the fourth minute that was saved by
Matthew Dworak.
Woods turned the momentum and capitalized in the 10th minute. Building from the midfield,
Alejo Marcaccini took a pair of dribbles toward the right wing then cut back and spotted Williams in the middle of the field. The Birmingham native collected the pass, spotted Ferdinand Ovrevik Da just off his line and struck a rocket that snuck under the bar.
The Owls kept up the pressure and threatened to double their lead, but Briar Cliff equalized in the 22nd minute. As the Chargers found a quick counterattack, Dworak got caught in no-man's-land at the top of the 18-yard-box and as he slid to make the tackle he was whistled for a foul. Andrew Buchanan slotted home the penalty to level the game at 1-1.
Williams put WWU back in front in the 27th-minute as he cleaned up a rebound from a blistering shot by
Moritz Schafer just 12 yards from goal.
Lubos Polacko doubled the Woods lead in the 56th minute, shaking loose from his defender and slotting home an inch-perfect cross by
Aiden Mowrey from the endline.
Miles Andrews joined the goal-scoring party in the 69th minute, finishing off a solid buildup by the Owls. Woods played the ball up through midfield, with a pass springing
Benjamin Lachaize into space toward the right corner. Lachaize drew a pair of BCU defenders on the dribble, opening space for Andrews to fill from the midfield. The Jefferson City sophomore turned with the pass from Lachaize and threaded the needle between the legs of one BCU defender freezing Ovrevik Da solid as the shot rippled the near post netting.
The Chargers nicked back a consolation goal in the 77th minute on a quick counterattack, as Herman Toftevag found Filip Peters open in the middle.
Dworak recorded four saves in the win for Woods to five for Ovrevik Da, as WWU outshot BCU 10-7.
The Owls continue north on US 75 for the second game of their four-game road swing, taking on Dordt University on Saturday in a 1 p.m. kickoff.
