Mustangs secure second-straight shutout victory

TMU Men's Soccer picked up its second-straight shutout victory on Saturday afternoon, prevailing 1-0 over Saint Katherine on Reese Field.
 
"I'm excited to have a couple shutouts and wins this week," Master's Head Coach Jim Rickard said. "The heat made things difficult for both teams, but we showed some midseason game fitness by preserving the win and shutout."
 
In the 24th minute, Kellen Dresdow's ball over-the-top found Aidan Rohde, who brought the ball down with this head. His shot from six-yards out was miraculously saved by the Firebirds' goalkeeper, but it was saved only as far as Giorgio Martino, who scored the tap-in.
 
Martino scored each goal in the Mustangs' two 1-0 victories this week, as he added to the one he scored in a win over Eastern Oregon on Thursday.
 
"I'm happy that Giorgio is finding his scoring form," Rickard said. "I brought him to the team to score goals."
 
The junior from Italy had a glorious chance to double TMU's advantage when he was sent through at the midfield line one-on-one with the last man of Saint Katherine's defense. Martino dribbled past him, but the Saint Katherine goalkeeper came up with a big time save.
 
After outshooting the Firebirds 10-1 in the first half, the Mustangs recorded a nine-to-four advantage in shots in the second half, with Saint Katherine rarely threatening the TMU goal.
 
"Getting 19 shots, which were spread among several players, is a good sign for the future as well," Rickard said. "We'd love to spread some scoring around but you have to have shots before you can have goals."
 
Master's tallied its second-consecutive shutout, a feat it had not achieved since Oct. 12 and 19, 2019.
 
"The defense is really playing well," Rickard said. "Moving Peter Mackay into the middle and Michael Nachfoerg to the outside has really helped."
 
For the second-straight game, TMU started all four of its freshmen.
 
"I'm proud of everyone but I'm especially proud of the freshmen, who are growing so much each game," Rickard said.
 
The Mustangs will look to make it three wins from three when they host Bethesda University on Friday at 4 p.m.