WAVERLY, Iowa – A pair of goals just minutes apart propelled the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's soccer team (3-1-1) to a third straight win in a 2-0 shutout of Wartburg (1-2-3) on Wednesday night from Salzwedel Field in Waverly, Iowa.
The Pioneers made their first shot attempt of the night count, as freshman
Niall Hagen scored the first goal of the season in the 23rd minute. Junior
Aiden Hatleberg fed a high cross into the box and Hagen out positioned his defender and beat the keeper with a headed shot.
UW-Platteville kept the pressure on, getting a shot on goal from Hatleberg and a free kick opportunity just outside the box following a Wartburg yellow card. Sophomore
Roberto Salinas' shot attempt on the free kick was saved, but senior
Luke Hogle had a clean shot on the rebound to make it 2-0 Pioneers in the 25th minute. The goal was the second of the year for Hogle, while Salinas earned his first assist.
The score remained the same for the rest of the contest as the Pioneers defense kept the Knights off the scoreboard. Wartburg finished with a 14-6 advantage in shots, including 8-1 in the second half while trying to erase the deficit. But just two of the 14 shots were on goal, while UW-Platteville was efficient with five on target.
Sophomore
Connor Waite earned the shutout, stopping both shots he saw on frame. He has now gone 180 straight minutes in net without allowing a goal while making four saves.
The Pioneers will be back home next Wednesday against Loras. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
