MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — The nationally 20th-ranked Anderson University (4-0-1) defeated Mount Olive (1-2-0), 4-0 on Wednesday at Amon Field. The Trojans scored twice in each half and finished with an 18-7 shot advantage, including 12-4 in shots on goal. The team achieved a season high of four goals in the game.
Jonas Zethofer scored the game-winning goal and put his lone shot on frame.
Unai Bernal recorded a shutout in goal, making three saves over 90 minutes.
Aryan Benitez added a goal while putting both of his shots on target.
Luis Munoz led AU with four shots, including two on goal.
The Black and Gold turned their first-half chances into a 2-0 halftime lead, with Zethofer finishing
Joachim Koch's assist in the 8th minute and
Adrian Castillo scoring in the 27th minute. Castillo has now scored at least one goal in three consecutive games. Earlier in the half, AU earned a corner in the second minute and later answered UMO pressure with looks from Koch and Munoz, whose shot was saved in the 16th minute. Bernal helped protect the advantage through a UMO push that included saves on Haythem Abraham and Kevin Jimenez, followed by multiple corner kicks. The Trojans also absorbed late pressure with two UMO corners and a team save in the final three minutes, then closed the half with saved shots from Benitez and
Kaiden Smith before taking the 2-0 lead into halftime.
AU kept control after halftime, creating early pressure and adding second-half goals from Benitez and Tiago Ibarolla to finish a 4-0 win over UMO. The visitors opened the half with five shots and a corner in the first 10 minutes, with
Jace Hicks and Munoz each forcing saves from Kingston Ouellette. Benitez scored in the 69th minute to make it 3-0, and the Black and Gold followed with two saved shots from
Kenta Yagi and a corner before Ibarolla scored in the 76th minute. Koch recorded at least one assist in two consecutive games. UMO managed a late shot in the 89th minute, but the Trojans closed out the half without conceding.
Up next, the Trojans soccer team travels to Emory, Va., to face Emory & Henry on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 5 p.m.
