COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University men's soccer team secured a trip to the OAC Tournament thanks to a 4-0 drubbing of Baldwin Wallace University on Saturday afternoon. The Comets also celebrated seven seniors for the men's soccer program just prior to kickoff.
The Comets improve their record to 10-6-1 overall and 4-4-1 in the OAC. BW finishes their season 7-10-2 overall and 3-5-1 in the conference.
SENIOR DAY
Prior to kickoff, the Comets recognized
Kellen Sargent,
Mujahid Abdel-Ghani,
Jack Francisco,
Alex Moore,
Jack Kossoudji,
Jarrett Puckett and student assistant coach
Austin Bealer for their contributions to the program over the years. This group of seniors has qualified for the OAC Tournament each of their years with the program thanks to today's win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets got on the board just 15 seconds after kickoff thanks to a quickfire strike from senior
Jack Kossoudji. Kossoudji – who scored a hat trick in the first 9:56 of Wednesday's night – got through the back line of BW thanks to a pass from
Mujahid Abdel-Ghani, and poked a shot in at the near post. The goal marked Kossoudji's 11th goal of the year – a new personal best for a single season.
Capital kept up their pressure in the first five minutes of the game, as they doubled their lead at the 4:15 mark of the first half.
Devon Hess took a pass from Abdel-Ghani and lashed home a missile of a shot that found its way to the upper right corner of the net. The goal was Hess's sixth of the year and certainly one of his best.
The Comets continued to dominate the first half, adding a third in the 28th minute.
Jacob Deever ripped a shot on frame that deflected off a BW arm inside the penalty area, thus drawing a penalty kick for the Comets. Deever stepped up the spot himself and converted his third goal of the year.
All-in-all the Comets didn't take many more shots in the first half, but carried the 3-0 lead to the break.
After halftime, Capital went to add another in the 50th minute.
Jack Francisco sent a cross into the center of the box where the BW keeper got a hand to and deflected the ball up onto a Yellow Jacket defender and back into his own goal.
With the 4-0 lead, Capital defended their lead the rest of the way as the Yellow Jackets attempted to scratch back into the picture.
Despite BW slinging 25 shots toward the goal, just four shots found the frame. Starting goalie
Kellen Sargent made one save, while
Ethan Ogden made three saves in relief.
On the other end, Capital took 15 total shots and found the frame with 11 of those attempts. Starting goalie Sam Cipriano made seven saves for BW.
UP NEXT
Capital will await their OAC quarterfinal destination as the rest of the OAC plays later today. Right now, Capital sits sixth in the conference, but a potential Marietta loss may adjust their seeding. The Pioneers play host to ONU at 7 p.m. Once all of today's games wrap up, the OAC will announce Tuesday's quarterfinal match-ups tonight. Capital fans can count on their first round match-up taking place on the road.
