V-Hawks Top Saints 4-0

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Soccer team defeated St. Francis (Ill.) 4-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Viterbo Outdoor Athletic Complex. The V-Hawks improve to 4-0, while the Saints drop to 2-1.

St. Francis would take the first three shots of the game, but Viterbo would score on their first shot. Jasper Bruisten checked the ball back to Matteo Galeotti, who booted the ball 40 yards up to Alfie Gyurkovits for the goal. Alessandro Lopergolo had a shot on goal in the 11^th minute, but goalie Carson Heglund was there for the save. Viterbo's goalie Ernesto Ascenzo would record his first save of the game two minutes later on a shot from Sergio Fernandez-Arango. Sammy Ankaoglu would put in a penalty kick at 20:43 for the 2-0 lead, and Sebastian Acosta's corner kick found the net in the 33^rd minute to put the V-Hawks up three.

The Saints would have a trio of yellow cards 15 minutes into the second half, and a pair of shots around the 67:00 mark. At 71:31 Marcelo Puertas put the ball over the defense to find Aidan Radford for another Viterbo goal. Ernesto Ascenzo saved a shot on goal from Erick Guzman in the 73^rd minute, and Heglund saved shots from Diego Idrobo and Callum Smith in the 76^th minute, but neither team would score again for the remainder of the game.

Viterbo would outshoot St. Francis 16-10, including 12-2 on goal, but St. Francis would take four corner kicks to Viterbo's three. Ascenzo (3-0) earned the win with zero goals allowed and two saves. Heglund (1-1-0) recorded the loss with four goals allowed and eight saves.

Viterbo will return to action Monday, September 5 at Martin Luther College (Minn.) at 2 PM.