Second Half Scoring Outburst Leads Roos Over Leathernecks

Wednesday, October 18

Kansas City, Mo.

7:00 PM

Kansas City

3-6-4, 1-2-2

Western Illinois

2-11-1, 1-4-0

Western Ill.

Kansas City

Photo by: Francie Wilson

Second Half Scoring Outburst Leads Roos Over Leathernecks

10/18/2023 10:14:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Highlights Balters Postgame Coach Pore Postgame Photo Gallery

Kansas City got goals from Brice Middleton, Miguel Fernandez and Hector Taboada in the win

KANSAS CITY - Kansas City Men's Soccer (3-6-4, 1-2-2) took down Western Illinois (2-11-1, 1-4) this evening, 3-0, for the Roos' first win of Summit League play. KC dominated the first half offensively, putting up six shots with two of them being on goal, but had no goals to show for it heading into the break. That quickly changed in the second half as Brice Middleton scored in the 46th minute, followed by goals from Miguel Fernandez and Hector Taboada to clinch three points on the league table.

KEY MOMENTS

15' / 0-0 | Julien Le Bourdoulous ripped the first shot of the night of Kansas City, but it traveled just left to keep things scoreless early.
25' / 0-0 | Middleton got a good one-on-one look in the box, but his shot would be saved by the Leathernecks' keeper.
30' / 0-0 | Samuel Nagy had a fantastic look and hit a strike that went off the far post as the Roos continued their aggressive first half of offensive.
46' / 1-0 | On Kansas City's first offensive opportunity of the second half, Le Bourdoulous sent a back-heel pass to Middleton, who let a left-footed shot rip from the top of the box, curling into the net beyond the outstretched arms of WIU's keeper.

Whatever coach said at half worked ??@julienlebourdo6 ?? @b_jmiddleton https://t.co/kX1z8I6Lsj pic.twitter.com/s1NE2Dy1sS
— Kansas City Soccer (@KCRoosMSoccer) October 19, 2023

59' / 1-0 | Christian Koffi weaved his way into the box and hit a shot towards the right post that curved in but just missed.
65' / 2-0 | Seth Kacich headed a ball towards the top of the box, which was brought down by Luke Hoelting. Hoelting settled the ball and played it back for Fernandez, who faked a pass to the outside and took the open field towards goal. He let a screamer rip from over 30 yards out, leaving no chance for the Leatherneck keeper to make a save.

Misdirection and an absolute beauty from @miguicelta5 ??#ROOUP | #DeclareKC https://t.co/sWsfOm3YUa pic.twitter.com/VN1mdkjFtU
— Kansas City Soccer (@KCRoosMSoccer) October 19, 2023

72' / 3-0 | A red card was assigned to WIU for stopping a goal scoring opportunity, and Edson Murguia let a shot rip on the ensuing free kick that went skyward after glancing off the top of the crossbar. Cade Martin rose above a crowd to head the ball back to Guille Munoz Villarejo, who turned and sent a cross right to Taboada for a tap-in goal.

Easy does it ??@Cade88806334 ?? @gmunoozv1 ?? @Taboadiinha #ROOUP | #DeclareKC https://t.co/s0XBYWAjVL pic.twitter.com/26phgZkuVx
— Kansas City Soccer (@KCRoosMSoccer) October 19, 2023

84' / 3-0 | Eliott Labeth would get a look at the goal, but his shot was pushed just left. The Roos would go into defensive mode from there and hang on to the shutout win.

STATS TO NOTE

Robin Balters put up his first clean sheet of his Roos career in the win, picking up a kick-save in the 78th minute.
Middleton and Taboada each tallied their third goals of the season, placing them in a tie for the team lead.
Muñoz Villarejo tallied his first minutes of his collegiate career, playing 27 total minutes. He also notched the first assist of his career on Taboada's goal.
Kacich's assist on the Fernandez goal was the second of his career, and his first since Feb. 7, 2021 against Central Arkansas.
The three goals are the most the Roos have put up in a conference matchup this season and the second most in any match.
The Roos only allowed four total shots from Western Illinois, the fewest the team has allowed in a conference matchup this season.
The three-goal difference is the largest Kansas City has had over Western Illinois in a match since October 10, 1997, when they won 5-0.

UP NEXT
The Roos head north to take on Omaha on Saturday at 7 p.m. This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the first resulting in a 1-1 draw on Sep. 23.