SECOND-HALF SURGE LIFTS NO. 20 TIGERS PAST SIENA HEIGHTS

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Three second-half goals propelled the No. 20 Olivet Nazarene University men's soccer team to a 4-2 victory over the Siena Heights Saints Saturday afternoon at the Snowbarger Athletic Complex.

The contest got out to a slow start as both teams had trouble finding an advantage early on. Only five shots had been sent on net in the first 40 minutes of play, with the Tigers only accounting for two of those shots.

The deadlock was broken in the 41st minute when a corner kick off the foot of Nick Kilian found the header of Bas De Vries who punched the ball into the back of the net, extending Kilian's program-leading assist total to 31. The lead was short-lived, however, with Siena Heights slipping a header past sophomore keeper Patrick Dye just 42 seconds later to make it a 1-1 game heading into the halftime break.

ONU jumped right back in front to open the second-half action. Just eight minutes in, Noa Norton collected a rebound shot just outside the box, dribbled to the center, and rifled the ball past the Saint keeper to put the Tigers back in front.

Siena Heights attempted to recreate the quick comeback goal that they pulled off in the first but were thwarted by a spectacular save by Dye in the 55th minute. Siena Heights' Marcelo Roch slipped through the ONU defense for a breakaway but was stymied by a toe save by Dye to keep the Tigers on top.

Holden Devore extended the Tiger lead to 3-1 in the 61st minute with a rocket at the top of the box. Devore was set up on a great pass from Josh Dennis, who then assisted on the next goal in the 87th minute. Dennis ran the ball up the sideline and slipped the ball to the racing Joel Trueb who took full advantage by sending the ball into the net.

The Saints tacked on their second goal just 20 seconds later, but it was too little, too late as the Tigers held on for the win. The 4-2 victory marks ONU's second win in as many games.

The No. 20 Tigers will hit the road to take on Kalamazoo College on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in Kalamazoo, Mich. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu