COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -  Men's soccer opened the season with a 1-0 road win over Saint Johns University on Friday, Aug. 30. Sam McDevitt scored the game winner for the Knights in the 56^th minute to send Wartburg to 1-0 overall.
 
Match Summary

• First Half
  • The Knights came out of the gate firing with two shots on goal in the first three minutes of play
    • Blake Halleran recorded the first shot that was saved and then Landon Hartsell put an attempt on goal off the deflection that was also saved by the Johnnies
  • In the following minutes Alima Mmunga, Harstell and Flori Gembo all had shot attempts that fell just off target
  • Wartburg got the first corner kick of the match in the 19^th minute, St. Johns didn't allow any shots and the score remained 0-0
  • SJU had a scoring attempt midway through the first half after a strong throw in led to a header on target, but Henry Eckert was there to make the save for the Knights
  • Tyler Howe had a shot for the Knights in the 39^th minute that was off target and then minutes later the Johnnies had an off-target header set up by a corner kick
  • The score remained 0-0 headed into halftime
• Second Half
  • Wartburg had two early corner kick attempts in the second half, but good defense from the Johnnies kept the first corner kick out while the second resulted in an off-target header from the Knights
  • Gembo fired a shot to the lower corner that was saved by the SJU keeper
  • Following another Wartburg corner kick, the tie was broken in the 56^th minute after Sam McDevitt fired a shot through a crowd that found the back of the net to put the Knights ahead 1-0
  • Gembo put another shot on target in the 62^nd minute before St. Johns answered with a shot on goal of its own that was saved by Eckert
  • Mason Yeatts fired a shot on goal in the 71^st minute that was saved by the Johnnies
  • Wartburg's defense kept St. Johns off the board to close the match and earn a 1-0 win

 
Top Performers

• Sam McDevitt
  • Goal
    • Game winner
  • 79 minutes played
• Henry Eckert
  • Three Saves
  • 90 minutes played
• Flori Gembo
  • Four total shots
    • Two shots on goal
  • 60 minutes played

 
Notes/Streaks

• Wartburg has won the last three matches in the all-time series
  • Knights lead series 7-2-1
• First career goal and points for McDevitt
• The Knights dominated corner kicks seven to two as well as total shots 13-5
• First career starts at Wartburg for Eckert, Gembo and Carson Kay

 
Next Time Out
The Knights will be back in action on Sunday, Sept. 1 when they travel to Milwaukee, Wis. to face the Milwaukee School of Engineering at 4 p.m.