An early goal, followed by a two-goal barrage at the start of the second period eventually became a 4-0 victory for Kenyon over Wabash on Saturday afternoon at Mud Hollow Field.
The Lords' Peter Nolan scored in the 11th minute for a 1-0 lead on a great shot after a pass from teammate Felix Hoffmann.
"It was a beautiful goal," head coach Roberto Giannini said. "Sometimes you have to give the other team credit when they make a good play, and that's what Kenyon did. I am proud of the way my team played after that goal, however. We didn't get discouraged. We kept up the pressure throughout the first half."
Problems arose for the Little Giants at the start of the second period. Kenyon's Aaron Manning scored an unassisted goal three minutes into the second period. Six minutes after the Lords took the 2-0 lead, Miguel Barrera added a third goal. Barrera would score again in the 74th minute to add the final points.
"We lost our focus and our concentration for about a five-minute period, and that obviously hurt us," Giannini added. "That is something you cannot do against any team, including a team like Kenyon that is playing good soccer."
Wabash put five shots on the net, but could not get anything past Kenyon goalkeeper Jamie White. Michael Kaster led the Little Giants with two shots on goal. Dylan Andrew, Mark Babcock, and David Rosborough each had a shot on goal, as well.
"Sometimes, everything goes well for your team and sometimes everything goes wrong," Giannini said. "They took four shots on goal and score four goals, we took five shots on the frame and their keeper made five great saves. Sometimes that's what it all comes down to."
The loss was the first of season for the Little Giants at home, dropping the team to 4-5-2 overal and 0-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Kenyon improved to 8-3-1 and 2-0 in league play with the win.
Wabash will get a chance to regroup with a non-conference match Tuesday evening at Principia.
Photo - Bob Cassady battles for the ball against Kenyon. Photo by Alex Moseman '11.