The 2004 season start for the Wabash soccer team was marred with fouls, penalties, and a 3-0 loss to Centre College in Saturday’s opening match of the Wabash Soccer Classic at Mud Hollow Field.
Centre (2-0) scored in the seventh minute of the match on a goal by Kevin Brown from Patrick McMahon that would prove to be the game-winner. An unassisted goal by Chris Combs and an own goal by the Little Giants in the second half put the game out of reach for Wabash.
The Little Giants were outshot 15-7, including an 8-3 differential in shots on goal. Forty-four fouls were called in the contest, including 15 on the Little Giants in the first half. Wabash lost the services of senior Morgan Patchell (Kalamazoo, MI/Loy Norrix) (photo) and junior Aaron Kunkle (Ft. Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran) when both received red cards in the second half of the match. Patchell led the Little Giants with two shots on goal before leaving the contest. Junior Jeff Diebel (Ft. Wayne, IN/Homestead) added a third. Junior Will McAdams (Carmel, IN/Carmel) made five saves in the match.
Wabash will play DePauw University in the second contest on Sunday afternoon in the Classic. Centre will face Albion, a 3-1 winner over DePauw in the second match on Saturday.