Ottumwa, IA – No. 11 Indian Hills Men's Soccer handled Illinois Central Community College at home on Saturday with a 7-2 victory on the Warriors' home pitch. Indian Hills moves to 5-1-2 on the year.
The Warriors are now unbeaten in their last four outings with a pair of wins and two draws. The seven goals scored on Saturday are the most for the Warriors this season. Freshman Fernando Pirri (Cordoba, Spain/IES Francisco de los Rios) netted a pair of goals for his fourth and fifth tallies of the year, the most for the Warriors this season. In total, six different Warriors connected on goals while picking up their second straight victory.
The barrage of scoring began in the 18th minute as freshman Lucas Bauer (Oldenburg, Germany/IGS Kreyenbruck) beat the keeper one-on-one on an assist from Gustavo Marques (São Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Anglo Indaiatuba) at the 17:25 mark. Bauer returned the favor just 30 seconds later as the freshman assisted on Marques' fourth goal of the year with a through ball from the left side of the net.
Indian Hills extended its lead in the 28th minute as freshman Daniel Mulero (Asturias, Spain/Salesianos Santo Angel Aviles) maneuvered his way through the box, beating a series of defenders before deflecting a shot into the back of the net. The goal was Mulero's first score of the season.
Indian Hills went into the halftime intermission with the three goal lead, but needed just 59 seconds into the second frame for its fourth tally of the day. Pirri converted his first goal of the match after outrunning the defense on an assist from midfield from fellow freshman Jeremie Truelle (Nosy-Be, Madagascar/Lycee Saint Joseph Pierre Rouge).
The offensive attack continued in the 53rd minute as sophomore Jack Donlan (Manchester, England/Oldham Sixth Form) converted a penalty kick, his first goal of the season and fourth career tally. Pirri put the Warriors ahead 6-0 less than a minute later on an assist from Alex Rodriguez (Valladoli, Spain/Les Nunez de Arce) for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Rodriguez capped the scoring for the Warriors at the 71:35 mark after burying a strike from 20 yards out that beat the outstretched arms of the Cougars' keeper in the top-left corner of the net, putting the home team ahead 7-0.
The Cougars' two scores came in the final 17 minutes of action on two penalty kicks.
Freshman Harvey Sellers (Surrey, England/Ewell Castle) remained unbeaten on the year with his second consecutive victory. Sellers worked 60 minutes of action to secure the win.
The Warrior victory snaps a two-game losing streak to the Cougars as the two teams have now met in each of the last three seasons.
Marques now leads the Warriors with 11 points on the year. The sophomore's 13 career goals are tied for eighth all-time in school history while his 31 career points are tied for 10th in school history.
Next up for the Warriors is a trip to Lincoln Trail College (IL) on September 30.
