| Box Score 2
Ohio Wesleyan 2, Mount Union 1
Anderson 2, Gordon 1

Junior midfielder Jon Stegner (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and freshman midfielder Gunnar Bloecher (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) scored goals exactly 2 minutes apart to give Ohio Wesleyan a 2-0 lead, and the Bishops withstood a late Mount Union charge to defeat the Purple Raiders in the first round of the Fred Myers/adidas® Invitational, hosted by Ohio Wesleyan on Friday at Roy Rike Field.

In Friday's first game, Anderson scored to break a 1-1 tie with just over 10 minutes left in regulation time to take a 2-1 decision over Gordon.

The Bishops kept Purple Raider keeper Jon Critell busy during the first half, with sophomore midfielder Colton Bloecher (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) and junior back Alex Stanton (Delaware/Hayes) putting shots on goal during the first 2-plus minutes of action only to see Critell make the stop each time.  Midway through the half, it was junior midfielder Taylor Rieger (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) with a pair of chances just 24 seconds apart.  Ohio Wesleyan would hold a 13-2 advantage in shots during the period, but the game would be scoreless at the break.

Mount Union had a pair of excellent chances early in the second half, but senior goalkeeper Paul Hendricks (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) made the play on each.  First, Hendricks left his line to take the ball off the foot of an onrushing Purple Raider forward, and just over 5 minutes later, on a Mount Union counterattack after a Bishop turnover, Hendricks made a stop of Joey Tricchio's shot on a fast break.

Critell answered in kind, making a spectacular diving save to rob Colton Bloecher of a goal with just over 20  minutes to play.

Fortune was not kind to the Purple Raiders in the 73rd minute, when a pair of Raiders converged on a loose ball near the top of the Ohio Wesleyan penalty area.  Austin Farroni had a good look at the top right corner, but his shot deflected off a Mount Union teammate and over the goal for a Bishop goal kick.

Ohio Wesleyan took the lead with exactly 16 minutes to play in regulation time when Stegner's shot from near the top of the box trickled inside the right post.

Two minutes later, it was junior back Ben Witkoff (Columbus/Gahanna Lincoln) centering the ball from the right side to Gunnar Bloecher, who finished the chance from the middle of the field for a 2-0 Bishop lead.

Mount Union answered quickly, responding just over a minute later when Tricchio broke in on Hendricks and squeezed off a shot.  Hendricks made the save, but the ball came out to Clay Hicks, who put the rebound into the right side of the net to bring the Purple Raiders within 2-1.

Ohio Wesleyan had a similar chance in the 79th minute, when Critell made the save on a shot by Witkoff, with the rebound going to freshman midfielder Brian Schaefer (Chatham, N.J.) on the right side, but Schaefer's follow shot went wide of the right post.

The Purple Raiders appeared to score with 3:52 left in regulation time, but the play was ruled offside, and that would be the last scoring chance for either team.

"This was a tough game," said Bishop head coach Jay Martin.  "I knew we would have trouble scoring goals this year, and I think everyone playing us has a little more incentive than usual because of the national championship."

Ohio Wesleyan outshot Mount Union, 27-10.  Hendricks stopped 5 shots in the Ohio Wesleyan goal, and Critell recorded 8 saves for the Purple Raiders.

In Friday's first game, Anderson jumped to a 1-0 lead midway through the first half when Brad Rusche played the ball ahead to Todd Canal, who broke in one-on-one against Gordon keeper Ryan Coil and found the left side of the goal.

Gordon picked up the pace offensively during the second half, and it paid off just over 7 minutes into the period when Luke Partain evened the score with a wicked 20-yard shot from the left side.

The Ravens took the lead with 10:09 left in regulation time when the ball was deflected off a Fighting Scot defender and out to the top of the box, where Brody Reinholt hit a shot just inside the top right corner of the goal.

Gordon outshot Anderson, 27-10.  Coil had 2 saves for the Fighting Scots, and Chris Maloney recorded 7 saves for Anderson.

Saturday's action matches Anderson against Mount Union at 5 p.m., with Gordon taking on Ohio Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m.

The Fred Myers Invitational, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Delaware County, has been one of the featured events on the Battling Bishops' schedule for 34 seasons. It honors Fred Myers, longtime soccer and lacrosse coach at Ohio Wesleyan.

Ohio Wesleyan-Mount Union Box Score
Anderson-Gordon Box Score