MADISON, Wis. – It's getting harder to remember the Edgewood College men's soccer teams from recent years who struggled offensively. Just two games into the season and this year's Eagles are showing a definite knack for applying pressure on opposing defenses and scoring goals. Tuesday night, the Eagles forced two penalty kicks and shutout visiting Olivet College 3-0 at Goodman Pitch-East.
Edgewood College (2-0) applied early pressure, winning four corner kicks and putting three shots on net in the first 16 minutes of action. The Eagles broke through in the 20th minute when an Olivet College (1-1) defender was called for a foul in penalty area. Sophomore Sean Surtees converted the penalty kick to put the Eagles ahead 1-0. The Comets earned three corner kicks in the final five minutes of the half, but Eagles' starting goalkeeper Dan Dombrowski and his defense kept the Comets off the board.
Edgewood College made the score 2-0 in the 55th minute on another Surtees penalty kick, but this one was a bit unusual. Jordan Stark earned the penalty kick when his shot from the top of the circle was ruled to have been handled by an Olivet defender. Surtees took the penalty kick, and appeared to be stuffed by Comet goalkeeper Justin Lavin, but an Olivet defender was called for encroaching into the penalty area before the kick. Surtees was granted a replacement shot and made this one count, burying it in the back of the net.
The Eagles received a bit of help on their third goal. Victor Lombardino took a free kick from 40 yards out, which Lavin misjudged. The ball went off his fingertips, bounced off the left post and landed at the foot of Luke Miller who tapped it into the empty net from two yards out. It was the seventh goal of Miller's career, but the first since the 2015 season.
Olivet College ended up outshooting the Eagles 23-17 on the night, but Edgewood College put nine shots on net, compared to just five for the Comets. Garrett Lee led the Eagles with three shots on goal, while Miller totaled a team-high four shots. Dombrowski made five saves in earning his second shutout in as many starts.
Edgewood College will have little time to savor victory, as the Eagles take to the road for the first time this season on Wednesday night. The Eagles will meet the University of Dubuque in a 7:00 match.
