EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer was back at home on Saturday afternoon as they hosted Youth Day during their match with the Beloit College Buccaneers. As they outshot the opposition 45 to 3, UW-Eau Claire cruised to a 5-0 shutout win on Simpson Field.
The offensive firepower began in the first half as UWEC recorded 22 shots in the opening 45 minutes of play.
Nathan Donovan (Jr. – Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic) found the game's first tally in the 9
th minute with a header off a corner kick from
Carter Thiesfeld (Jr. – Forest Lake, Minn.) for Donovan's seventh goal of the year. The Blugolds continued to press in the first half, but only beat the Beloit goalkeeper once before the two teams hit halftime.
The Blugolds wasted no time extending their lead after the break as
Will Miers (Jr. – Columbus, Minn./Centennial) found his first goal of the season in the 49
th minute. Less than nine minutes later,
Noah Malcook (Fr. – Fitchburg, Wis./Oregon) found his first collegiate goal in a Blugold kit to extend the lead to 3-0.
Nathan Donovan recorded his third multi-goal game of the season after securing his brace in the 58
th minute with Eau Claire's fourth goal of the afternoon.
Noah Malcook and
Sam Lynch (Sr. – Verona, Wis.) were credited with assists on Donovan's second goal. Bian Vazquez (Fr. – Fitchburg, Wis./Verona) sealed the 5-0 win for Eau Claire in the 77
th with his first collegiate goal for the Blugolds.
AJ Mittelsteadt (Jr. – Stoughton, Wis.) and
Owen Williams (So. – Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) received assists on the final goal.
Mark Belknap (Jr. – Anoka, Minn.) stopped the lone shot he faced in 79 minutes of play to secure his first win of the year and is now 1-0-2.
Jakob Leonard (Jr. – Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) found 11 minutes of playing time but never faced a shot.
The Blugolds (3-1-2) will hit the road next week as they travel to St. Bonifacius, Minn. to take on Crown College on Thursday, September 21
st. Kickoff from Old National Bank Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
