The Malone University men's soccer team snapped a seven-match winless streak with a 1-0 shutout of Alderson Broaddus University late Saturday afternoon in front of an energetic crowd at Hazen Field. With the win, Malone improved to 2-5-2 overall and 1-5-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Alderson Broaddus dropped to 4-6-1 on the year, 2-4-1 in the G-MAC.
 
The Pioneer victory was the first home win of the season and the first win on campus since 2016. The victory was also the first-ever win against Alderson Broaddus in 12 total tries.
 
Junior Christopher Mally, who made his first start of the season and assisted on the Pioneer goal, expressed his excitement for the victory and the week ahead. "Coming out with three points at home after all the adversity we faced feels amazing. Now we get to go on the road and bring back six more points."
 
The Pioneers, with four points in the conference standings, share a three-way tie for ninth place. They travel to Trevecca Nazarene and Kentucky Wesleyan for a pair of matches next week.
 
Recap
Just two weeks after a 1-0 overtime victory for Alderson Broaddus over Malone in the first matchup this season in West Virginia, the Pioneers and Battlers played a match noticeably similar to the first, save for the final score. Quality shots were few and far and between as defense reigned supreme. The 90-minute match saw a total of 21 shots but just a combined eight on goal.
 
Following a 0-0 deadlock at halftime, Malone finally found the back of the net just under nine minutes into the second half. After possessing a loose ball outside of the 18-yard box, Mally and junior Nathan McFeaters exchanged a couple touch passes between defenders before McFeaters lifted a shot in the top right corner of the net. His fourth goal of the season ignited a raucous team celebration and infused energy among the Pioneer faithful.
 
From that point forward, every Battler shot carried more and more urgency. Senior keeper Nick Wilhelm and the Pioneer defensive back row of Jake Martell, Jonathan Dendinger, Nick Fry, and Jamal Rasheed staved off nine second-half shot attempts, including three shots on goal.
 
Wilhelm finished with four saves in his first career shutout, none bigger than a loose-ball save in front of the net with 33 seconds to play.
 
Patrick Alvarez led the Malone offensive attack with four shots, including two on goal.
 
Up Next
Malone faces Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tennesse this Thursday, October 17th at 8:00 pm (7:00 pm CT) in nightcap of a men's and women's doubleheader vs. the Trojans.