ASHLAND, Ohio - The Malone University men's soccer team secured its first win of the season on the road against the Ashland University Eagles, 2-1. The Pioneers move to 1-8-0 on the season while the Eagles drop to 3-5-1 on the year. In the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), Malone is 1-5-0 and Ashland is 2-4-0.
 
Ashland kicked the game off early with a goal within the first 10 minutes of the match, but Malone was able to tie the game during the 40th minute of the match when Anthony Birus connected a long entry pass to Mason Gradel. He beat the opposing goalie to tie the game at 1-1. Dylan DiPiero received an assist on the play as well.
 
Malone finished with four shots going into halftime, while the Eagles finished with seven shots. Pioneer goalkeeper Sam Cipriano (1-5-0) kept Malone in the first half by saving four shots on goal.
 
The second half was almost scoreless as both sides struggled to put the ball in the net. As the second half came down to the wire, a goal kick by Cipriano sent the ball deep to Alexander Castro Morales. This allowed Birus to sneak by the Eagles' defenders and score the game-winning goal during the 89th minute of the match.
 
The goalkeeper Cipriano finished the night with eight total saves, highlighting the defensive effort in tonight's match. Cipriano, DiPiero, Tiago Palhetas, Caleb Redding, Gradel and Castro Morales were key players to their victory that played the full 90 minutes.
 
The Pioneers look to carry this momentum back to Canton, Ohio as they host the Ohio Dominican University Panthers on October 9. Kick-off time 7:00 P.M.