'Roos Take Out Panthers 3-0, Extend Unbeaten Streak

Sunday, September 30

Charleston, Ill.

1:00 PM

Kansas City

Eastern Illinois

'Roos Take Out Panthers 3-0, Extend Unbeaten Streak

9/30/2012 6:38:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: UMKC Athletics

(Charleston, Ill.) - Kansas City men's soccer continued to roll on Sunday, knocking off Eastern Illinois 3-0 and extending its unbeaten streak to five games. It was also the third straight win for the 'Roos, and they are 2-0 to start Summit League play for the fifth time under the direction of Rick Benben.

Kansas City (4-4-2, 2-0 SL) has now defeated EIU (2-8, 0-2 SL) three consecutive times, while winning at Charleston for the first time since 1997.

The 'Roos opened the scoring in the 14^th minute on a corner kick when sophomore defender Michael Oakley knocked in a header off a cross from classmate Ashley Reece. It was Oakley's first career goal, while Reece tallied his team-leading fourth assist of the season.

UMKC registered the game's first six shots, coming out strong, and went into the half with a 1-0 lead and an 8-7 advantage in shots.

The second stanza saw the 'Roos extend the lead to 2-0 when sophomore Sylvester Yiadom got his first career goal. In the 69^th minute, Oakley had a long throw-in from the sideline that found the head of junior Tom Gaus, who flicked it on to Yiadom for a header finish.

Kansas City iced it in the 79^th minute when junior Zach Balthazar tallied his first goal of the season from eight yards out off a pass from Gaus.

The 'Roos also tallied their second shutout of the season behind five saves from freshman goalkeeper Connor Sparrow. The final shot count was 19-17 in favor of EIU, but the 'Roos had a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal.

Kansas City will try to start 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2003 and only the third time under Benben next Saturday in the annual Homecoming Game at 7:00 p.m. against Oral Roberts.