First-half goals and defense propel Mustangs to win over Menlo

Getting out in front early made it easier for The Master's University men's soccer team Saturday afternoon.
 
First-half goals from Brayden Campos and Dylan Bielanski, and a stout defense paced the Mustangs to a 2-0 victory over No. 25 Menlo on Reese Field.
 
"Proud of the guys to follow a game plan and compete well today," said TMU head coach Jim Rickard.  "Menlo is a very talented team and we had to solve several problems with their key players."
 
Solving those problems were part of the Mustangs' first GSAC win of the 2019 campaign as they improved to 1-2 in conference and 6-5-1 overall.
 
Campos struck first in the 12th minute.  After taking a pass, he went one-on-one with a Menlo defender, shook him and then hit a bending shot off the inside of his right foot into the side net of the far post for a 1-0 lead.
 
It was the junior's third goal of the season and turned out to be his second game-winner of the year.

🎥 Price Anderson hit a 💣, and Dylan Bielanski did the rest today vs. Menlo. pic.twitter.com/415RTphVpW

— Master's Athletics (@TMUAthletics) October 13, 2019

 
Roughly nine minutes later, Bielanski made it a 2-0 game with a big assist coming from goalie Price Anderson.
 
The second-year keeper punted the ball far up the field, where Bielanski ran onto it and hit a bouncing ball that grazed the underside of the cross bar and bounced behind the goal line.
 
Bielanski's goal was his team-high ninth of the season.
 
"Brayden and Dylan gave us two highlight-reel goals," Rickard said.

🎥 Brayden Campos drives. shoots. scores. It was great. pic.twitter.com/XzukpwRomx

— Master's Athletics (@TMUAthletics) October 13, 2019

 
Those goals stood up the rest of the way as the defense allowed just two shots on goal.
 
Both of those came in the second half and were secured by Anderson, who notched the fourth shutout of his sophomore season.
 
Rickard was effusive in his praise for his team's play, pointing out the performances of three individuals.
 
"All of them played so well and it's hard to single out people but the on the defensive side, Cameron (Molyneux) provides great leadership to our defense and Justin (Ikeora) gave us great athleticism in the middle.  Price was flawless in the net for a much-needed shutout," he said. 
 
The crucial win precedes a big game against No. 4 Westmont next Saturday on Reese Field.
 
"I'm hopeful moving forward that this was a defining game and we can build some confidence from it," said Rickard.  "All our remaining games will be extremely challenging and Westmont, ranked No. 4, is next.  We'll try to put a good game plan together, but the team has to execute it and bond together."