Senior Matt Kinkopf and junior J.J. Fortner lead No. 6 Men's Soccer in 7-0 victory over Manchester (Ind.)

By Caleb Scott

ADA — Senior Matt Kinkopf (Hamilton/Cincinnatti Christian) and junior J.J. Fortner (Maumee/Anthony Wayne) led the No. 6-ranked Ohio Northern men's soccer team as it defeated Manchester (Ind.) 7-0 Wednesday evening at Kerscher Stadium.

The Polar Bears improve to 10-0-1 overall, while the Spartans fall to 6-1-2.

With the victory tonight, it is the first time in Ohio Northern history that an ONU squad posted an undefeated season in the non-conference portion of the schedule.

Kinkopf scored one goal and added two assists for Northern, while Fortner added a goal and an assist.

After a nearly scoreless first half, Kinkopf was able to pick up a deflected ball and beat a defender, before finding the back of the net from 15 yards out in the 32nd minute to give Northern a 1-0 lead.

With just under a minute remaining before the intermission, Fortner would receive a pass from freshman Jimmy Walkinshaw (Plymouth, Mich./Canton) and beat the MU keeper to push the lead to 2-0.

Senior David Janusz (Oregonia/Lebanon) wasted no time adding to the Polar Bear lead as he picked up a loose ball from 10 yards out and found the back of the net to give Northern a 3-0 lead in the the 48th minute.

In the 64th minute, senior Nathan Libertowski (Medina/Medina) was able to score after senior Adam Subasic (Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road) and Kinkopf found him to push the lead to 4-0.

Just under a minute later, senior Tommy Troy (Toledo/Central Catholic) would extend the lead to 5-0 as he took a double assist from Kinkopf and senior Austin Horton (Lewis Center/Olentangy) and scored.

In the 79th minute, senior Jonathan Geis (Bellbrook/Bellbrook) would pick up a deflected ball and find the back of the net to make it 6-0.

Sophomore Joseph Schulte (Copley/Copley) would extend the Ohio Northern lead in the 89th minute as he received a pass from Fortner and sealed the 7-0 shutout.

Junior goalkeeper Dean McNeil (Medina/Medina) earned the victory in the goal and is now tied for second place all-time at Ohio Northern with 22 career shutouts.

"I'm very proud of this group. It is a good testament to how hard this team works to go undefeated in non-conference play," said head coach Brent Ridenour. "This is a great way for us to go into the conference season. This was the best full 90-minute game we have been able to put together and this kind of momentum is big heading into OAC play."

McNeil improves to 10-0-1 on the season and posted one save in the contest.

Northern will return to action Saturday at 7 pm as it welcomes Ohio Athletic Conference-foe Mount Union to Kerscher Stadium in the OAC season opener.