Wash. U. players Lucas Ragula (15), Shiv Lamba (10), and Alex Jaberi Vivar (7) celebrate the Bears’ 3-0 win over Greenville Monday night. (Photo courtesy: WashU Athletics)

by DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

After suffering its first loss of the season last Wednesday, the Washington University men’s soccer team bounced back in a big way, thanks to a dominating 3-0 road win over Greenville University at Francis Field in Greenville, Ill.

The Bears were shutout for the first time this season in a 1-0 loss to Hope College last week, but they didn’t waste any time getting on the board against Greenville.

Wash. U. scored twice in the first half, once in the 28th minute and again in the 40th minute, to grab what proved to be an insurmountable lead over the Panthers.

Wash. U. controlled the action all night and outshot Greenville 26-2, with neither of the Panthers’ shots actually reaching the Wash. U. goal. The Bears also earned 10 corner kicks, while the Panthers had none.

Forward Sergio Rivas led the way for Wash. U., with a goal and an assist, while teammates Gavin Morse and John Daniels each added a goal apiece.

Morse’s goal — the first of his collegiate career — broke the scoreless tie. It came on a header, following a corner kick by teammate Alex Smith. Daniels’ goal was his second of the season and came on a similar play, when he headed in a crossing pass from Rivas to make the score 2-0.

Greenville had one solid scoring chance late in the first half, but the play was called due to an offsides.

Rivas put the game away early in the second half, when he scored his team leading 5th goal of the season off an assist from teammate Owen Culver.

The Bears (5-1) will be back in action Friday, September 24, when they’ll host Wisconsin-Whitewater at Francis Olympic Field in St. Louis. Kickoff for that contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.