COLUMBIA, Ky. – Philip Sandgren was a goal-scoring machine on Wednesday, booting four into the back of the net to help the top-ranked Lindsey Wilson College men's soccer team blank Bluefield (Va.) College 7-0 at Walter S. Reuling Stadium.
The Blue Raiders dominated the game from the start, finishing with a 24-8 advantage in shots to make life difficult for the first-year Mid-South Conference member Rams. Wednesday night's tilt was the first between the two programs.
Bluefield (3-5-0, 0-2-0 MSC) put just one shot on goal by reserve Shawn Stanley, compared to Lindsey Wilson (9-0-0, 5-0-0 MSC) firing 14 shots on target, led by Sandgren with five.
Defender Sicelo Buthelezi got into the goal-scoring mix as well with two, while Eddy Campbell wrapped up the scoring with a goal and two assists.
Tom Moody finished with a pair of assists as well, while Yazeed Davids got the assist on the final score of the game by Sandgren in the 74th minute.
While the Blue Raider offense was hitting on all cylinders, in the end just one goal could have won it, and the first strike came from Buthelezi just feet from the goal in the 20th minute off a cross from Moody following a Lebogang Moloto corner kick.
Lindsey Wilson dominated corner attempts, racking up 11 in the game while keeping the Rams from attempting any at all. It was a product of the style of the game as the Blue Raiders rarely allowed Bluefield a strong possession past midfield.
Four of the Blue Raiders' goals were scored in the first half, while Sandgren made the lead 5-0 as soon as the second half started in the 46th minute. The sophomore started his scoring spree in the 24th minute and completed his night by scoring the last three goals of the game.
Yuta Nomura stayed in goal for the Blue Raiders for 68 minutes before handing goalkeeper duties over to Jesper Malmstrom the rest of the way. There was just one save to make in the game, made by Nomura in the 36th minute.
The Rams' keepers split halves with Jefferson Watson playing the first with three saves and four goals allowed before Justin Cook finished it off with four saves and three goals allowed.
The win brings the Blue Raiders' streak to 32 straight, dating back to the 2010 NAIA National Championship.
The Blue Raiders' five assists and 11 corner kicks were season highs, while Sandgren's four goals were the most scored by a player this season.
Lindsey Wilson is back in action at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Sept. 25 against Cumberland (Tenn.) at Walter S. Reuling Stadium.
