Skip To Main Content

Grinnell College Athletics

Grinnell College - go to site
Sam Gojjam
Meilynn Smith
1
Central (IA) CEN (2-2-1, 0-0-0)
4
Winner Grinnell GRN (5-0-0, 0-0-0)
Central (IA) CEN
(2-2-1, 0-0-0)
1
Final
4
Grinnell GRN
(5-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Central (IA) CEN 0 1 1
Grinnell GRN 2 2 4

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Ted Schultz

Grinnell men's soccer team spreads the wealth in 4-1 victory over Central

Pioneers continue to enjoy best start since 1999

GRINNELL, Iowa - Spreading the wealth proved to be a winning formula as Grinnell College's men's soccer team continued its best start since 1999 with a 4-1 thumping of Central College Wednesday.

The Pioneers, who improved to 5-0, got four goals from four different players at Springer Field. Grinnell's defense was also stout, allowing just a solo goal with 9 seconds left in the contest.

Grinnell, unbeaten in its last five meetings with Central dating back to 2022, got on the board just 12 minutes in when Ian O'Loughlin '28 scored his first goal of the season on an assist by Jake Lu '30. On the play, Lu worked the ball from left to right and whipped a pass into O'Loughlin at the top of the box. O'Loughlin entered the box, beat two defenders and lofted a shot into the right side of the net for his fourth career goal.

Just four minutes later, Lu got into the scoring act on assists by Demi Oni '27 and O'Loughlin. Lu took a rocket of a pass from Oni inside the box and quickly fired a shot into the goal to make it 2-0. It was Lu's first goal of the season.

The score remained 2-0 through halftime into the 75th minute when Samuel Gojjam '27 scored his team-high third goal and 18th in his career. Oliver Klemm '29 had his team-high fourth assist as he deflected the ball and got it to Gojjam at the top of the box. Gojjam entered the box, faked out a defender, and sent a beautiful ball past the keeper.

Eight minutes later, Kanata Mizutani '28 completed Grinnell's scoring with his second goal of the year. Oni corralled a loose ball and got it to Mizutani, who somehow avoided a cluster of tangled Central players and sent a short shot into the net. It was Oni's third assist of the season.

Grinnell won the shots battle, including a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. Lu had three of the Pioneers' shots, while Oni, Gojjam and Daniel Katsanovich '30 added two apiece. Getting one shot each were Beacan Mottl '28, Jack Pennachio '28, Klemm, O'Loughlin, Luke Akosa '29 and Mizutani.

Alexander was masterful in net, posting two saves while working 81 minutes before giving way to Braydon Depew '30.

With the loss, Central is 2-2-1 on the season.

Grinnell opens Midwest Conference play Saturday at Monmouth College. Kickoff is 11 a.m.
Print Friendly Version