Nzwanga's Hat Trick Sends UU Past Storm

URBANA, Ohio (September 11, 2012) - After suffering a heartbreaking loss in their last outing, the Urbana University men's soccer team took it out on the visiting Storm from Lake Erie College on Tuesday afternoon.  Urbana scored three first half goals on their way to an easy 5-0 victory.  Newcomer Yves Nzwanga sparked the offense early with a pair of goals en route to a hat trick in just his fifth career game as a Blue Knight.

Nzwanga's first goal caught the Storm keeper off guard.  From about 40 yards out, Nzwanga lofted a shot over the keeper's head into the back of the net.  About four minutes later, he cleaned up a Mwaliko Ahmed shot in the box to give him a pair of goals in the game's first 17 minutes.

Ahead 2-0, Urbana's onslaught continued.  Another junior transfer, midfielder Carl Peers, slammed home a free kick from about 35-yards out as the home team took a 3-0 advantage into the break.

The second half began the same as the first.  Urbana's leading scorer, junior Tyler Wason, wasted little time before scoring his fifth goal of the season.  In the 51st minute, Wason took a Storm turnover and deposited it in the back of the goal.  Five minutes later, a Mark Whittle corner kick found its way through a crowd to the foot of Nzwanga.  Unguarded, Nzwanga took his time to fire a rocket past the Storm keeper inside the far post to complete his hat trick. (Click to view a post-game interview with Yves Nzwanga below.)

UU goalkeepers Darragh McGinley and Matt Zaikos combined for the shutout.  McGinley made 5 saves in the first 72 minutes.  Zaikos made 4 saves over the final 18 minutes.

Urbana improves to 3-2-0 with the win, while Lake Erie drops to 1-3-0.  The Blue Knights hit the road for their next three contests, starting this Saturday at Slippery Rock University.  Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. [Box Score]