IW soccer shuts down Spalding

MEDIAPOLIS - The Iowa Wesleyan men's soccer team came to play on Saturday in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown with Spalding University. The Tigers shut the first-place Golden Eagles down, 3-0, dropping them from the top of the SLIAC standings.

After nearly a full half of scoreless play, Francisco Javier Saldana netted the opening goal just ahead of halftime. The SLIAC's leading scorer scored off an assist from Ieuan Ridout, and the Tigers led 1-0 at the break.

Iowa Wesleyan made it 2-0 under 15 minutes into the second half. Xavier Lozada scored the game's only unassisted goal, scoring in the 59th minute to give the Tigers a two-goal lead.

Saldana put the game on ice in the 67th minute, scoring his second goal of the ballgame off an assist from Christian Rios.

Vincent Sanchis pitched a shutout in net, but he had some light work thanks to the Tiger defense. Sanchis only faced two shots on goal on the day, and saved both.

The win propelled the Tigers back up to third place in the SLIAC standings, tied with Spalding at 3-1-2. Webster University and Westminster College each sit at 4-1-1.

Iowa Wesleyan will host Westminster on Wednesday at 1 p.m. The Iowa Wesleyan women will play first, at 11 a.m.