Dylan Andrew blasted his second goal of the season off a corner kick by Ian Kelly to give the Wabash soccer team a 1-0 win over Alma in the opening round of the Wabash-DePauw Soccer Classic at Mud Hollow Field Saturday afternoon.
Kelly lifted the corner kick in front of the goal, where Andrew sliced in front of an Alma defender to head the shot past goalkeepr Jon Nowak for the eventual game-winning score. The goal marked the second time this season Kelly has helped the Little Giants to a game-winning score on a corner kick. Tuesday night at Wheaton his reset found Mark Babcock in front of the net for the difference-maker against the Thunder in a 3-1 win. (View Jim Amidon's photos from Saturday's win over Alma here. Local photographer Kevin Seale's photos can be viewed here.)
After taking the 1-0 lead five minutes into the match, the contest turned into a defense struggle. Both teams managed just four total shots on goal. Wabash netminder Pat West recorded two saves for his second win of the season and first shutout. Nowak finished with one save. The Little Giants managed to press the offensive attack in the second half, outshooting the Scots 12-2, but only one shot came close to scoring when Andrew drilled another shot that hit the left post late in the final period.
"We moved the ball around a little better in the second half and created some chances to score," head coach Roberto Giannini said. "We have practiced a lot of different combinations up front, some different attacks from the flanks and from the middle. We're trying to take shots from outside. Now we just need to finish some of those shots."
Andrew's two goals this season equal his season total from his freshman year, when he finished the season with two goals and two assists in 16 games. Kelly has three assists in his sophomore year.
Giannini discusses the Little Giants' effort in the second half.
DePauw defeated Elmhurst 2-0 in Greencastle in the second portion of Saturday's two classic contests. The Little Giants will play Elmhurst Sunday afternoon at noon at Mud Hollow Field in the closing contest of the two-day event.
Photo - Dylan Andrew drives a header past the Alma goalkeeper for an early 1-0 lead Saturday. The goal would stand up to give the Little Giants their second straight win of the season. Photo by Drew Casey ’12.