ELSAH, IL – The Principia men's soccer team broke its six game skid on Saturday afternoon by defeating MUW 5-1 at home to get the team's first SLIAC victory. The Panthers scored twice in the opening five minutes before adding three more late in the second half to put the game away.
Principia needed just 3:04 to grab the lead as Alessio Ripamonti finished off a pass from Sebastian Castro for his third goal of the season. Less than two minutes later, Jamaine Lubega was fouled in the box and then converted from the penalty spot for his first collegiate goal. In the 25th minute, Juan Garcia Lopez thought he had made the score 3-0 with his first of the season, however the goal was called back for offsides. The Panthers would head into halftime maintaining their 2-0 lead.
MUW made things interesting in the second half as they cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 55th minute. Principia was then reduced to 10 men less than two minutes later due to Garcia Lopez being sent off for a second yellow. Despite playing shorthanded, the Panthers kept the Owls from finding an equalizer and began creating opportunities of their own as the half wore on. Edgar Cartagena helped preserve the lead with seven saves on the afternoon.
The momentum shifted again when MUW earned a red card of their own in the 78th minute, and the Panthers took advantage almost immediately. Jakob Stumm got his first as a Panther a minute later thanks to a shot by Ripamonti ricocheting off him into the net. The goal gave Principia some much-needed breathing room, but they weren't finished there. Alberto Hernandez added his fifth goal of the season in the 89th minute off a feed from Emir Lelic, and Tyler Meier struck 50 seconds later with Eduardo Salazar providing the assist. The late flurry secured an important first conference win for Principia to move to 1-2 in SLIAC play.
The Panthers remain at home for two games next week. First is a non-conference matchup with Columbia College (MO) on Tuesday, October 6 at 5:30 PM CT. Then they host Blackburn College for a conference clash on Saturday, October 10 at 3:00 PM CT.
