#21 Men’s Soccer defeats Wilmington 2-1, extends win streak to four games

By Wes Mayberry

ADA — The No. 21 Ohio Northern men's soccer team defeated Wilmington 2-1 Wednesday night at Kerscher Stadium, extending its current win streak to four games.

The Polar Bears (10-2-3 overall, 5-0-1 OAC) are currently riding a 12-game unbeaten streak, going 9-0-3 since Sept. 4, and lead the OAC standings.

The Quakers fall to 8-5-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the OAC.

Junior Cade Winchester (Knoxville, Tenn./Alcoa) and sophomore Ashton Ochsner (Floyds Knobs, Ind./Floyd Central) scored one goal apiece for Northern in Wednesday's victory.

Winchester gave ONU a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute, scoring on an assist from fifth-year senior Levi King (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central).

That marked Winchester's fourth goal of the season, tying him with King, fifth-year senior Bryan Kern (Rocky River) and senior Aaron Shelton (Ortonville, Mich./Brandon) for the team lead.

The Polar Bears took that 1-0 edge into halftime, but the Quakers knotted the score in the 57th minute when Grant Murray found the back of the net on an assist from Elorm Dogbey.

ONU had an answer though, regaining the lead on Ochsner's first career goal, which came in the 67th minute on assists from sophomores Ryan Parker (Lexington) and Noah Zebrak (Cleveland/St. Ignatius).

That goal proved to be the game-winner, as sophomore goalkeeper Lucas Hickey (Conroe, Texas/Oak Ridge) and the ONU defense withstood seven shots from the Quakers over the final 15 minutes to secure the victory.

Hickey finished the game with four saves, while WC goalkeeper Thomas Grimes tallied seven saves.

Northern out-shot Wilmington by a 19-17 margin in the game, and both teams attempted three corner kicks.

The Polar Bears return to action on Saturday at OAC foe Muskingum at 7 p.m.