DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University men's soccer team (2-4-4, 1-0-0 NCAC) hosted their first conference game of the season against Wabash (10-3-1, 1-1-0 NCAC) on Wednesday evening. The Bishops finally got back in the win column – and started conference play the right way – with a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half header by freshman
Nick Gallo.
It was a quiet first half with just four shots between the two sides. The Battling Bishops got their first and only shot in the half at the 22nd-minute mark by
Maddox Andrea. It – like Wabash's three shots – was unsuccessful, being snatched up by the keeper. Alas, neither team succeeded in scoring, ending the first half in a tie of 0-0.
The second-half spark for the Red and Black came just three minutes into the 45. After OWU was awarded a free kick,
Vittorio Renda found Gallo in the box who rose above the rest to put the 48th-minute header in the lower left corner.
From then on, the Bishops' defense stepped up to shut down Wabash's offense, sustaining seven attacks and keeping the Little Giants scoreless. On the other side, Ohio Wesleyan was quite successful in pushing forward to – if nothing else – drain time of the clock. As a result, the Battling Bishops nearly scored once or twice more before the final whistle brought the game to a close at 1-0.
THE NUMBERS
Both sides were square at 10 shots, but the Bishops were the more accurate team at 5-3 in shots on target. OWU was awarded two corners, compared to five for the Little Giants. The Battling Bishops made three saves while Wabash made four.
Nick Gallo's goal was the first of his collegiate career.
Vittorio Renda recorded his third assist of the season.
Andrew Davison (2-1-1) nabbed his first complete-game shutout for OWU, making two saves.
UP NEXT
The Battling Bishops continue conference play at home against Wooster this Saturday at 4 p.m.
