Fulton, Mo 9/17/2023- The Westminster College men's soccer team was back in action on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule as they welcomed the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater Warhawks to Kent and Judith Mueller Stadium. The Blue Jays would score early to get a 1-0 lead three minutes into the game. The Warhawks would answer with three unanswered goals and go on to win the game 3-1. UW-Whitewater improved to 8-0-1 on the season and the Blue Jays dropped to 0-6 as they head into conference play.

Niklas Olsson would start the game with a bang as Joel Litten would find him streaking down the right sideline. Olsson found the back of the net with a well-placed shot, giving the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead early in the game.

The Warhawks would answer and tie the game at the 8:07 mark, then would go up 2-1 after a goal in the 20th minute. UW-Whitewater would score one more time in the first half in the 28th minute to take a 3-1 lead. The Warhawks would take twelve shots in the half, with seven of them being on goal.

Senior Connor Benefield would get the start in goal for the Blue Jays, and he would make five saves on eight shots on goal.

Westminster would generate some offense and get off five shots on the goal but could not find the back of the net. In the 12th minute, Nolan Deane had a chance to score and put the Jays ahead 2-1, but the Warhawks goalie stopped his shot, one of four saves made in the game.

The Blue Jays would threaten again in the 15th minute with Travis Beig and Adam Luetkemeyer both getting shots off on goal. Westminster would only get one shot on goal in the second half and that came off the foot of Tyler Christle in the 68th minute. In the end, Whitewater was able to hold on to their 3-1 lead and win the game.

Westminster College will be back in action on Friday, September 22nd as they travel to Batesville, Arkansas to take on Lyon College to start SLIAC play. The game will start at 5:30 p.m.