Three Different Players Score as No. 4 Men's Soccer Beats Westminster, 3-0
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St. Louis, Mo., September 21, 2011 — The fourth-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men’s soccer team won its seventh-game in a row with a 3-0 victory over Westminster College on Wednesday night at Francis Field in St. Louis, Mo.
The seven-straight wins are the most for Washington University since the 1974 season when it won the first nine games of the year. The seven-game winning streak is the longest for the Red and Green since they won seven-straight games outright in 2008
Washington University dominated the first half, outshooting Westminster 15-1 and putting up a pair of goals to take a 2-0 lead into the half.
Sophomore Michael Flowers tallied the first goal of the game in the 18th minute, his first of the season. Junior Zachary Query sent a long cross to the left side of Westminster’s zone to senior Patrick McLean, who headed a pass into the center of the box to Flowers, who deflected the pass past a diving Caleb Marquis.
Flowers added an assist when the Bears scored again eight minutes later. Off of a corner kick, one of Washington University’s 10 in the first half alone, Flowers had a give and go with senior Cody Costakis, before making a short pass to freshman Jon Geremia.
Much like the first goal, Geremia made a long cross from the right side into the heart of the Westminster defense, only this time junior Jeremy Kirkwood did not need to make a pass, heading the ball on net for his second goal of the year.
Westminster only had one shot in the first half, but it was a quality attempt, with Adam Ross firing a ball from 15-feet out wide left of the goal in the 17th minute. Washington U. held a 15-1 advantage in shot attempts, putting seven shots on net, and had a 10-0 edge in corner kicks.
Washington University had several strong scoring chances early in the second half before finally adding a third goal in the 84th minute. Just over 12 minutes into the period Query made a quick pass to McLean just in front of the Westminster goal, but McLean’s close range shot was saved by Jon Malter and his rebound attempt was wide right of the net.
Five minutes later Costakis made a pass up the middle of the field to Kirkwood who sprinted through the Westminster defense, but has his shot on net was saved by Malter, who turned away three shots in the second half.
It was Query that finally broke through late in the game, taking a long pass from freshman Pay Estakhri for a breakaway down the middle of the field, firing a ball past Malta to provide the Bears with a 3-0 lead. The goal was Query’s third of the year, which put him in a tie with McLean for second on the team, while Estakhri tallied his second assist of the year.
Washington U. finished the game with a 26-3 advantage in shots and the Bears did not allow Westminster to record a shot on goal, recording their fourth shutout of the season.
Washington University also finished with a 14-1 edge in corner kicks, with the 14 corner kick attempts representing the most for the Bears this season and the most since they had 14 in a 0-0 tie with Westminster on Sept. 10, 2005.
Washington U. (7-0) returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 25, for one of its toughest tests of the season when it will travel to River Forest, Ill., to face No. 15 Dominican University at 3:30 p.m.