Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 8, Wabash 0

by Michaela Alfano '25

Senior forward Jaggar Brooker (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) had 2 goals and 2 assists in the Bishops' dominant 8-0 North Coast Atlantic Conference win over Wabash on Wednesday at the Jay Martin Soccer Complex.

The Bishops took a lead midway through the first half, when junior forward Christopher Guerra (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) sent a pass to senior forward Franklin Rodriguez (Santiago, Dominican Republic/Berkshire (Mass.)) who found Brooker in the box. Brooker tapped the ball, sending it into the back of the net. Rodriguez added a second 3 minutes later when he cut inside the box to beat a defender, shooting the ball to make it 2-0.

The Bishops' 6 other goals came in the second half, where they outshot Wabash, 16-9. Junior defender Tristan Ruiz de Somocurcio (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Preparatory) got the scoring started in the second half after receiving a pass from Brooker. Junior forward Aiden Wightman (Beavercreek) slipped a pass to Brooker, who sent it to Ruiz de Somocurcio for a 3-0 score.

Brooker added his second goal, and the Bishops' fourth, 3 minutes later after collecting a rebound and poking it into the back of the net after a save on a shot by Rodriguez.

Guerra tallied the Bishops' fifth goal after receiving a perfectly placed cross by Rodriguez, shooting into the right side of the net in front of the goal. Freshman defender Alex Bucher (Centerville) started the play by collecting the ball from Wabash to pass it off to Rodriguez.

Ohio Wesleyan increased the lead to 6-0 when senior midfielder Landon Kuhn (Lewis Center/Olentangy Berlin) sent a pass in to senior midfielder Drew Doza (Lexington, Ky./Dunbar). Doza redirected the ball to sophomore forward Colin Callahan (Columbus/Bishop Hartley), who shot it from 12 yards out.

Doza had a chance to add a seventh goal but his shot was saved. Junior midfielder Mathias Koo (Galena/Olentangy Orange) found the rebound to collect and tip it into the back of the net to make the score 7-0.

Sophomore midfielder James O'Connor (Cincinnati/St. Xavier) gathered a ball, taking it out left before sending a pass to freshman midfielder Logan Lewarchick (St. Charles, Ill./East). Lewarchick played it off to freshman forward Sam Owusu Sarfo (Columbus/Worthington Christian), who nutmegged a Wabash player as he tucked the ball right inside the post for a 8-0 score.

"We felt that we were in a good position. We just played really well," said Bishop head coach Jay Martin.  "Besides the 8 goals, I mean there wasn't a fluke goal. It was a good game for us going into our last three games. If we can win out, we'll win the conference, so that's our plan."

Ohio Wesleyan outshot Wabash, 23-12.  Whitman made 1 save and freshman Zach Herzberg (Austin, Texas/Cedar Park) completed the shutout in the Bishop goal with 3 saves.

At halftime of the game, the Bishops recognized guests from Baumholder, Germany, who were visiting the Jay Martin Soccer Complex, continuing a friendship of 30 years between Ohio Wesleyan, the city of Delaware, and the city of Baumholder.  Recognized were Bernd Mai, Melanie Mai, and Emilia Mai, who have been organizing Ohio Wesleyan trips to Baumholder for 30 years; Bernd Alsfasser, the district mayor of Baumholder; Dieter Bergisch, the president of the Baumholder Sports Club and a member of one of the Bishops' host families; Bernd Bronbacher, whose family has hosted during the last 4 Ohio Wesleyan trips to Baumholder; Maik Rech, Kristina Rech, Leah Rech, and Anna Rech, a host family; Carolyn Riggle, the mayor of Delaware; and Paul Brake, the city manager of Delaware.

Box Score