Box Score Ohio Wesleyan 5, Allegheny 0Junior midfielder Phoenix Neitzelt (Delaware/Hayes) scored the go-ahead goal and senior forward Brian Schaefer (Chatham, N.J.) had a goal and an assist to start Ohio Wesleyan on its way to a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Allegheny on Saturday at the Jay Martin Soccer Complex.
The Bishops and Gators had entered the game tied for second place in the NCAC standings at 3-0-1. The Ohio Wesleyan win, combined with DePauw's tie at Wooster on Saturday, moves the Bishops into a tie for first place with DePauw in the conference standings heading into Wednesday's game at DePauw.
Ohio Wesleyan earned 3 corner kicks during the first 10 minutes of play, but the only scoring chance the Bishops assembled was a shot by freshman back Luke Gabbert (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange), which Gator keeper Jake Pugliese tracked down for the save.
The Bishops struck paydirt on their fourth corner, with Schaefer sending the ball in, senior back Evan Lee (Toledo/St. John's) heading it along, and Neitzelt finishing the chance with a goal 11:07 into the action.
Ohio Wesleyan increased its lead to 2-0 when junior back Nick Norman (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) made a run into the Gator penalty area. Pugliese came out to break up the play and was whistled for a foul, and Schaefer converted the ensuing penalty kick with 20:33 left in the first half.
The Bishops made it 3-0 in the 36th minute when senior midfielder Lonnie Barnes (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) centered the ball from the left end line, with junior forward Kyle Baum (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) nudging the ball home from a crowd in front of the goal.
Norman and Barnes had chances early in the second half, with Norman firing a shot in the 58th minute only to see Pugliese make the save, and Barnes finding the loose ball after the save and firing another shot that the Gator keeper stopped.
Junior goalkeeper Ben Farynowski (Grandview Heights) kept the shutout going in the 67th minute, stopping a header by Allegheny's Izaak Miller.
Freshman forward Will Sharer (Avon) scored on an offensive rebound in the 79th minute, after a shot by senior back Mason Hoge (Mason) was blocked by the Gator defense and the loose ball went to Sharer.
Barnes rang up his second assist of the day as the Bishops closed out the scoring in the 81st minute, sending the ball in from the right end line to senior forward Matt Cohen (Cincinnati/Seven Hills), who headed it home with 9:08 left in the contest.
"This was a good game," said Bishop head coach Jay Martin. "Everybody played well. I was really worried about a letdown after the Wittenberg and Wooster games. I did not expect to score 5 goals at all -- Allegheny is organized, defensive, and hard to break down.
"This is a big, big week coming up with DePauw (on the road) and Kenyon at home (the following week). We'll know a lot more after that."
Ohio Wesleyan outshot Allegheny, 19-10. Farynowski finished with 3 saves in recording the Bishops' fifth consecutive shutout. Pugliese was credited with 5 saves in the Gator goal.
Box Score
