CWRU Tops Franciscan Behind Two First-Half Goals

CWRU Tops Franciscan Behind Two First-Half Goals

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The Case Western Reserve University men's soccer team opened its 2025 campaign on Friday night with a 2-0 win over Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

First Half

  • Franciscan had the first shot of the game, but senior goalkeeper Bradley Winter was able to turn it away in the seventh minute of action.

  • CWRU's first shot on goal came in the 26th minute when junior Ohta Kamiya launched one that was saved by the Barons' keeper. However, Kamiya struck again in the 35th minute, finding the back of the net with an unassisted goal to give the Spartans a 1-0 advantage.

  • The Spartans applied pressure late in the half, and it paid off with the team's second goal of the game. Sophomore Amir Awais took a shot late in the half that was saved by the Franciscan keeper, but Awais was able to collect the rebound and return it past the keeper to extend the Spartans' lead to 2-0.

  • Franciscan held a 7-6 edge in total shots during the first half, but CWRU finished the period with a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal.

Second Half

  • Both defenses toughened up in the second half with just five combined shots between the two teams (two for CWRU and three for Franciscan). Each team took one shot on goal in the second frame.

  • Winter notched his second save of the game in the 51st minute, stopping a shot by Franciscan's Lucas Cross.

  • The Spartans' defense held the Barons to just two more shots for the remainder of the game to tally the shutout.

Spartan Notes

  • Winter played all 90 minutes in goal, saving both shot attempts on goal against him. He recorded his 13th career shutout (the fourth-most in program history) and improved to 14-7-10 all-time following the win.

  • Friday night's contest was the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and the Barons.

  • The Spartans finished the game with a 5-2 edge in shots on goal, despite being outshot 10-8 overall on Friday.

  • Kamiya's goal was the third of his career. It marked the second game-winning goal of his collegiate career.

  • Awais' goal was the fifth of his career after he scored four as a first-year player last season.

  • The Spartans improved to 20-7-4 in season openers since 1994 and 11-1-3 since 2010 following Friday's win.