WAVERLY, Iowa – Men's soccer opened American Rivers Conference play at home on Saturday, Sept. 23 with a 3-0 win against the University of Dubuque after outlasting a second half weather delay. 
 
Match Summary

• First Half
  • The Spartans got the match underway with two shots on goal in the first five minutes
    • Both were saved by Brennon Woody
  • Wartburg got its first opportunity in the 16^th minute when both Curtis Ratzer and Andrew Valenzuela had shots blocked after a corner kick
  • Alima Mmunga got behind the Spartan defense in the 24^th minute, but his shot missed just left of the post
  • Edvin Rizvic came close to an unassisted goal after his shot just curved and missed the target in the 32^nd minute
  • Woody made two more saves before half to keep the match at 0-0
• Second Half
  • Rizvic got two shots on goal that were both saved in the opening minutes of the second half
  • Minutes later Landon Hartsell drew a foul that led to a Wartburg penalty kick
    • Ratzer netted the attempt to give Wartburg a 1-0 advantage in the 54^th minute
  • Just one minute later, Aidan Mott got behind the UD defense on a break and Paul Devine found him for the score
    • Wartburg led 2-0 in the 55^th minute
  • The match was stopped due to a weather delay in the 61^st minute of play
  • Devine drew a foul in the 72nd minute that led to a free kick goal from Rizvic to put the Knights up 3-0
  • Michael Dunn and Tyler Howe both recorded shots on goal in the final minutes, but neither found the net
  • Wartburg defeated UD 3-0

 
Top Performers

• Ratzer
  • Goal
    • Game-winning goal
  • Helped lead Wartburg defense to shutout
  • Three total shots
  • All 90 minutes played
• Mott
  • Goal
  • Two shots on goal
  • 60 minutes played
• Rizvic
  • Goal
  • Three shots on goal
  • 59 minutes played

 
Notes/Streaks

• Wartburg leads the all-time series 12-9-4
  • Now 5-5-2 at home
• 5-0-3 is the longest unbeaten streak to start a season in program history
• Fourth-straight shutout for Wartburg's defense
• First penalty kick of the season for Wartburg
• Ratzer:
  • Second goal this season
  • Fifth career goal
  • First career penalty kick made
• Mott:
  • First career goal
  • Third point this season
• First assist of the season for Devine
  • Third career assist
• 10th point for Rizvic this season
  • 17th career goal for number 17
  • 40 career points
• Woody
  • Shutout
    • Fifth this season
  • Six saves
  • All 90 minutes played

 
Next Time Out
The Knights are back in action on Monday, Sept. 25 on the road against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the second annual Battle of the Warhawk Knight Cup.