WOOSTER, Ohio – With an over-the-top feed by first-year BJ Tally, sophomore Manny Burton flicked home the game-winning back-post header to lift The College of Wooster men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over the University of Mount Union on Tuesday afternoon at Carl Dale Memorial Field.
The scoreline avenges a 1-0 loss to the Purple Raiders a year ago, as the Fighting Scots better their all-time record over Mount Union to 30-6-4.
On opposite ends of offensive rhythm, Mount Union (1-2-0) held their poise in the opponent's third to start the match. The Purple Raiders posted eight shots, including six on goal, in the opening 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, Wooster (2-1-0) was limited to two shots on goal on five total shots.
Come the second half and into overtime, the Scots racked up seven shots with two on frame.
Mount Union nearly pulled ahead late in regulation, however. Junior Ian Moorhead found some open space outside the 18-yard-box before pulling the trigger, delivering a ball far post, only to be denied by a fully-stretched Will Collis.
Speaking of Collis, the sophomore goalkeeper out of Upper Arlington, Ohio finished with eight saves en route to his second clean sheet of the season.
After an overall balanced 90 minutes of regulation, the Scots wasted little time. Shots by first-year Max Hill (save) and sophomore Connor Hawkins (blocked) were both denied within the opening 70 seconds, but the relentless pressure ultimately drowned the Raiders two minutes later.
Tally did well to find Burton from 25 yards out with a left-footed lofter to the center of the six-yard-box, as Burton rose above the rest to stun the 'keeper and push the Scots to a 2-1-0 start or better for the first time since 2014.
Sophomore Paulo Nunes led the team with four shots while first-year Evan Lewandowski and sophomore Max Rochester tallied shots on goal along with Burton, Hill, and Tally.
Up next, the Scots hit the road for the first time this season as they get set to face Grove City College (Sept. 8) and the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford (Sept. 9) this weekend.
