Iowa Wesleyan soccer secures Senior Day split

MEDIAPOLIS — The Iowa Wesleyan soccer teams took the field at Mediapolis for one last regular season doubleheader on Wednesday. The Tigers split with visiting Greenville University, winning the men’s game 1-0 but losing the women’s game 2-0.

The Tiger men needed to win to stay on pace for a Top-2 seed in the upcoming SLIAC tournament. The defense answered the job in a big way, holding Greenville to just six shots on goal.

The Tiger men waited just over 35 minutes to get on the board. Francisco Javier Saldana showed why he’s the SLIAC’s leading scorer, netting the first and only goal of the game in the 35th minute. He took a pass from Mariano Mateo Moreno and sent it through to put the Tigers up 1-0.

Saldana’s goal was one of just three shots on goals for the Tiger men on the day. Saldana had two of those shots on goal, and Pedro Pina finished with one.

Vincent Sanchis played all 90 minutes in net and finished with six saves.

The Tiger women played the Panthers tight, but they couldn’t generate much offense. Iowa Wesleyan had just six shots on goal in the women’s game.

Greenville’s Jen De Leon scored the only two goals of the game. Her first goal came in the 27th minute, and she put the nail in the coffin with just 17 seconds showing on the clock.

Ashlyn Bogue led the Tiger offense with three shots on goal. Giovana Pedrassani and Cheleena Squibb each had one.

Kylie Mulhern-Guillier served all 90 minutes in net for the Tiger women, saving six of eight shots faced.

The Iowa Wesleyan men are now 5-1-2 on the year. They sit in second, right behind Webster (6-1-1-) in the SLIAC standings with one game to go. The Tiger men play at Principia (2-6) on Saturday.

The Iowa Wesleyan women finished the season 3-7 overall and 3-6 in conference play, good enough for sixth place. They will find out their seeding for the SLIAC tournament after the rest of the teams have finished games.