Wason Scores Twice in 3-1 Win over Ashland

ASHLAND, Ohio (October 26, 2012) - As Friday night's men's soccer match went on at Ashland University, the conditions worsened. The wind picked up, the rain kept pounding down and the ball got heavy.  Fortunately for Urbana, a quick 3-0 lead was all it took to hold off their regional rival.

The win was the Blue Knights' ninth of the season, a total Urbana hasn't topped since 2006.  It also keeps Urbana's hopes alive for a Midwest Regional playoff bid.  With potential matchups remaining against the 3rd and 4th ranked Midwest Region teams (Cedarville in the G-MAC Championship and Saginaw Valley State on Sunday at home), Urbana has an opportunity to strengthen their resume with double-digit wins against one of the toughest D-II schedules in the country in 2012.  The Eagles slip to 7-7-2 and have not won since October 4th when they defeated the #2 team in the country, Gannon.

In the pouring rain on Friday night, Urbana scored three goals before the contest was 13 minutes old.  Tyler Wason scored at 1:03 and at 12:08.  Carl Peers provided the assist on Wason's second goal of the night.  In between those two goals, the Blue Knights scored on an own goal at 6:23. The Eagles finally got on the scoreboard at 41:51 when junior Zaan Janse got a ball past keeper Darragh McGinley. That's the only shot McGinley failed to stop as he earned his ninth victory of the season.

After that Janse goal, the Eagles got a lift for several minutes. Still, that would turn out to be the only time the Eagles could score. AU hasn't been able to score more than one goal in any of its last five matches.  Urbana has allowed the fewest goals in school history through the first 16 games (18), and McGinley's 1.04 Goals Against Average is on pace for a new school record.

On Sunday, the Blue Knights host #24 Saginaw Valley State in the regular season home finale.  Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. and it's another in-region must-win game for the Blue Knights.  [Box Score]