ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn.- The UNW Men's Soccer team collected their first UMAC win of the season in an impressive performance on the road, defeating Crown 3-0.
The Eagles came into the game trying to find their opening conference win in the 2021 campaign, and the team's focus was on display from the opening whistle.
Alejandro Alfaro (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) scored his first goal of the season in the 6
th minute of the contest, giving UNW an early lead that they would not surrender. Alfaro got the ball about 30 yards out from the goal, and went on an impressive 20 yard run before firing a strike with his right foot into the bottom left corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.
The Eagles continued to play well in the first half as they extended their lead in the 29
th minute, this time at the foot of
Isaac Friesen (Mora, Minn./Home School). The Eagles were rewarded a penalty kick after the Storm committed a foul in the box, and the defender Friesen came up to take it. The goalie guessed left, but the sophomore went to the upper right corner and the Eagles led 2-0. This lead would hold going into halftime.
It was in the 70
th minute that the Eagles delivered the final nail in the coffin, courtesy of
Jonathan-Thomas Olsen (Modesto, Calif./James Enochs High).
Luke McCann (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield High School) went on an impressive run into the deep corner and delivered a great cross that landed at the foot of Olsen, who knocked it in past the keeper. This would be the final goal of the match, as the Eagles would win 3-0.
Equally as impressive as the Eagles' offense, was the Eagles' defense. Northwestern remarkably did not allow the Storm to take a shot in the match, winning the shot total 29-0. It was a complete team effort from the Eagles on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball that led to their first UMAC win of the season.
The Eagles will have little time to celebrate this victory, as they are back in action tomorrow (Saturday, September 25
th) on the road once again taking on Minnesota-Morris.