The Kenyon College Lords soccer team opened North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play with a 7-0 victory over the Allegheny College Gators last Saturday at Mavec Field. It was a strong performance for the Lords, who pressured the Gators from start to finish.
In the fifth minute, senior Scott Upton took a shot toward the bottom left corner that Allegheny goalkeeper Jack Baron-Sluga deflected away. However, the rebound ended up near the foot of first-year Gerardo Martinez, who stuck it through the upper left corner with authority to put the Lords up 1-0.
Kenyon continued to put on pressure as the first half progressed, taking 15 shots while maintaining the vast majority of possession. The team’s second goal arrived in the 37th minute, when Sebastian Brylka received a pass in the box, controlled the ball and slotted it into the lower left corner.
Ahead 2-0, the Lords came out swinging to start the second half, and Mac Nardiello-Smith knocked in a shot to the bottom right corner in the 53rd minute to put Kenyon up 3-0.
Shortly thereafter, Aidan Burns took a corner kick and found Sebastian Gaese, who headed it home. A minute later, the Lords found themselves with another corner kick, with the corner turning into a scrum near the box. Johan Johannsson took charge and found his way to the ball, knocking it past Baron-Sluga to give Kenyon another goal.
Alem Duratovic added the sixth goal with a strike across the box and into the bottom left corner in the 71st minute. Two minutes later, the Lords went up 7-0 after Atli Hrafnkelsson found the back of the net. That lead stood for the rest of the game, giving Kenyon a resounding victory.
