Second Half Goal Gives Men's Soccer Full Time Lead

ATHENS, Tenn.- The men's soccer team returned to the TWU Athletic Complex on Wednesday to play their first home Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest of the season. Visiting the Bulldogs were the Johnson University Royals. 

Ten minutes into the game, Tennessee Wesleyan got on the board. Dylan Connell found Dave Neijenhuis open in the box, and his shot attempt went past the opposing keeper to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Julien Withrow attempted to put the team up by two goals but his header shot was stopped. Johnson put the game into a tie in the 19th minute. Seven minutes later, Neijenhuis sent a ball into a box that Connell headed towards the goal and Luis Baldivieso got a foot on the ball to send it into the back of the net, giving TWU a 2-1 advantage. Just before the end of the half, the opponents scored a goal to put the game in a 2-2 tie at the halftime break.

The score changed four minutes into the second half. Neijenhuis recorded his second goal of the contest off a Wynand Wessels pass to break the tie and make the score 3-2. Another goal occurred in the 69th minute. David Tayau gave the Bulldogs a 4-2 advantage with his shot sneaking past the opposing keeper. Neijenhuis completed a hat trick in the 77th minute, scoring off a Logan Haricombe assist to give the team a 5-2 advantage. Johnson scored once more but would not pull any closer, giving the team the 5-3 win.

Pedro DeMoraes got the start in the goal, finishing with three saves. Michael Garrihy picked up the win in the goal. 

Tennessee Wesleyan (2-2-2) heads back on the road for their next game. The team will travel to Cleveland, Ga., for a conference game against Truett McConnell University on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.