No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan Rolls Past IU East, 6-0

Indiana Wesleyan continued its unbeaten start to the season Wednesday evening, scoring three times in each half to cruise past IU East 6-0 at IWU Soccer Field.

The Wildcats, who moved up to a program-best No. 4 in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll earlier Wednesday, improved to 7-0-1. IU East fell to 2-3-3.

Indiana Wesleyan broke through in the 25th minute when Avery Williams scored her third goal of the season off an assist from Lauren Patzer. Williams struck again less than three minutes later, scoring at 27:11 for her fourth goal and a 2-0 advantage.

Patzer then went from provider to scorer. She found the net at 31:39, with Breena Ireland supplying the assist, and IWU carried a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime.

The Wildcats quickly resumed the attack after the break. Alyssa Hamann scored at 50:49 and again at 58:20, with Katelyn VanderArk assisting on both goals. The brace pushed Hamann to 10 goals on the season.

Julia Tiemann completed the scoring at 85:45 with her first goal of the year, producing the final 6-0 margin.

Indiana Wesleyan dominated the statistical battle, outshooting IU East 26-3 and putting 17 shots on goal compared with just one for the Red Wolves. The Wildcats also earned all nine of the match’s corner kicks.

IU East’s goalkeeper was kept busy throughout the night and finished with 11 saves. At the other end, IWU needed just one save to secure another clean sheet.

The shutout continued a remarkable defensive start for Indiana Wesleyan. The Wildcats had conceded only one goal through their first seven matches entering Wednesday, with that goal coming in a 1-1 draw against then-No. 1 Cumberlands.

For Indiana Wesleyan, it was another statement performance: six goals, a seventh shutout in eight matches, and an unbeaten record on the same day the Wildcats achieved the highest national ranking in program history.