Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 2, Calvin 1
Junior back Gabe O'Reilly (Westerville/Columbus St. Charles) and senior forward Franklin Rodriguez (Santiago, Dominican Republic/Berkshire (Mass.)) scored goals that gave 23rd-ranked Ohio Wesleyan a 2-0 lead, and the Bishops went on to defeat 11th-ranked Calvin in the first round of the adidas® Invitational on Friday at the Jay Martin Soccer Complex.
Rodriguez had the first scoring chance of the game with a shot in the fifth minute, fielding a pass from senior midfielder Landon Kuhn (Lewis Center/Olentangy Berlin) and squeezing off a shot from the top of the box, but Knight keeper Kaelen Matascastillo was there for the save.
Calvin had a look in the seventh minute, but Alex White's shot was snared by junior Sam Whitman (Baltimore, Md./Friends School of Baltimore).
The Bishops took the lead midway through the first half. Kuhn lined up for a free kick around 25 yards out, but his drive was blocked by the Calvin defense. Kuhn got the loose ball and sent it into the penalty area, and O'Reilly redirected it into the back of the net.
Ohio Wesleyan increased its lead early in the second half as senior forward Jaggar Brooker (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) sent the ball ahead to Rodriguez, who cut inside and slipped a shot inside the right post in the 51st minute.
The Knights closed to within 2-1 when White had a shot blocked but got to the loose ball and scored with 31:29 left in regulation time.
The Bishop defense protected the lead from there. Whitman made the save on a shot by White with 25 minutes remaining, which was the only shot on goal the Bishops would allow during the final 31-plus minutes.
"That was a good win," said Bishop head coach Jay Martin. "We had some guys who really stepped up. (Center backs) Brady (West) and Gabe (O'Reilly) had a good second half, Jaggar (Brooker) was tremendous, coaching on the field, and Franklin (Rodriguez) scored a goal and defended well. It was a good team effort -- everybody who went in gave us something."
Ohio Wesleyan outshot Calvin, 12-11. Whitman recorded 2 saves in the Bishop goal.
Box Score
