Alvin Jones, Staff Writer
Dearborn Keeper Elijah Burlak. Photo//UM-Dearborn Athletics
It was a thoroughly disappointing evening for the Wolverines, as they slumped to a 4-0 defeat at home against the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats. The team fell to 3-3-1 in the last game before WHAC conference play. They are winless at their Star International Academy home field so far this season. The Wildcats improved to 6-1-2 after a solid performance.
The Wolverines started out strong, with the two sides trading shots. After 30 minutes, Gary Mills scored the opener, pouncing on a rebound after Dearborn keeper Elijah Burlak made a save. The Wolverines went into half-time down 1-0. The Wildcats needed just six minutes to add a second goal. Giuseppe Santacroce scored the second goal, and UM-D found themselves chasing the game.
Despite a few decent chances in the second half, the Wolverines were outmatched. The Wildcats finished with nine shots (seven on target) compared to the Wolverines who finished with three, none of them on target. In minute 68, Wesleyan midfielder Jose Pizzaro played through Brandon Nyagurungo who went one-on-one with Burlak and scored. Winter Casseus scored a fourth for Indiana-Wesleyan at the end of the game.
This was a difficult loss for the Wolverines to take. However, conference play starts next week against Madonna. It is a chance to bounce back, go back over .500, and start conference play on a positive note.