Senior Cory Lains scores twice as Men's Soccer wins 7-1 at Muskingum

By Tim Glon

NEW CONCORD — Senior Cory Lains (Zionsville, Ind.) scored twice to lead the Ohio Northern men's soccer team to a 7-1 victory at Muskingum on Saturday afternoon at the North Turf Field.

The Polar Bears improve to 11-5-1 overall and are 4-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Muskies fall to 2-13-1, 0-7.

Lains scored in the 13th minute off a feed from senior Chris Garbig (Wilder, Ky./Highlands) to put ONU ahead quickly 1-0.

Muskingum responded with the equalizer in the 22nd minute to tie it 1-1.

But Northern quickly answered as senior J.J. Fortner (Maumee/Anthony Wayne) netted a penalty kick at the 23:16 mark to give ONU the lead for good.

Sophomore Michael Bringard (Hendersonville, Tenn./Pape John Paul II) made it 3-1 Polar Bears when he headed in a corner kick from sophomore Timothy Hoffman (Strongsville) in the 41st minute.

The Polar Bears turned it up in the second half, putting the match away with four more goals.

Lains netted his second goal of the game just 5:57 into the second half when he took a pass from senior Colin Johnson (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) and beat the keeper in front of the goal to make it 4-1.

Garbig scored unassisted in the 55th minute when he picked up a free ball and finished from inside the penalty box.

Sophomore Luke Fickenworth (Cincinnati/Anderson) scored off an assist from sophomore John Sternasty (Akron/Revere) in the 60th minute to make it 6-1.

Junior Anthony DeNoi (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) finished the scoring with a goal off an assist from freshman Jacob Scheufler (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) in the 75th minute.

The Polar Bears out-shot the Muskies 41-11 and had an 11-3 advantage in corner kicks.

"I am pleased with how we played today," ONU head coach Brent Ridenour said. "We had a good first half, then kept our foot on the gas in the second half and put it away. We were better in the second half and that's a credit to our guys to stay intense and keep the up the pressure."

The Polar Bears will return to action on Wednesday with a 7 pm match at Baldwin Wallace.