Ohio Wesleyan 3, Texas-Dallas 2
Kenyon 2, Olivet 1

Aug. 30, 2008

Sophomore back Brian Greene (Beavercreek) and freshman midfielder Travis Wall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) each had a goal and an assist as Ohio Wesleyan erased a 2-1 deficit to edge Texas-Dallas in the second round of the Fred Myers Invitational on Saturday night at Roy Rike Field.

Ohio Wesleyan trailed, 2-1, with less than 20 minutes remaining in regulation time when the Bishops lined up for a corner kick.

Sophomore back Eric Laipple (Westerville/South) sent the ball into the box, and Greene headed it from the right side into the middle, where Wall finished off the chance with a header that tied the game at 2-2 with 18:40 left in regulation time.

Wall and Greene teamed up again on the game-winner, as Wall ripped a shot that glanced off a Comet defender to Greene, who promptly deposited the rebound into the back of the Texas-Dallas net.

The Comets had taken a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. Stephen Ambrose crossed the ball from the left side to an open Kevin White, who buried a shot from the right side.

Ohio Wesleyan tied the game at 1-1 in the 56th minute. Sophomore midfielder Chad Baker (Dublin/Jerome) sent the ball ahead to freshman forward Matt Bonfini (Dublin/Coffman), but Comet keeper Jake Brandon came off his line and appeared to have the angle to beat Bonfini to the ball. However, Brandon slipped, and Bonfini found himself alone with the ball and facing an empty goal, and converted the opportunity for his first collegiate goal.

Texas-Dallas took the lead shortly thereafter, when the Comets had a restart in the Ohio Wesleyan end and Ambrose launched a 30-yard rocket into the back of the Bishop goal.

Brandon made a couple of timely saves to preserve the lead, denying sophomore forward Tyler Wall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) in the 66th minute and junior midfielder Blake Pifer (Fleming/Ada) in the 71st minute, but the corner kick that the Bishops received after the second save set up the tying goal.

Ohio Wesleyan outshot Texas-Dallas, 15-12. Gobel had 1 save for Ohio Wesleyan, while Brandon finished with 8 saves for the Comets.

In Saturday's opener, Kenyon's Aaron Manning scored the game-winner in the 77th minute.

The Lords had taken a 1-0 lead when Miguel Barrera chipped the ball over Olivet keeper Ethan Felsing and into the net in the 19th minute.

Olivet came back with a score in the 63rd minute. Andrew Evans fired a shot, the ball caromed off Kenyon keeper Jamie White, and Mike May headed it home to even the game.

Kenyon outshot Olivet, 19-12. White had 5 saves for Kenyon, while Felsing finished with 5 saves for the Comets.

Ohio Wesleyan junior back Kevin McGowan (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) received the Dick Gauthier Award as the Fred Myers Invitational's Most Valuable Player.

He was joined on the the all-tournament team by Tyler Wall, Travis Wall and Greene.

The Fred Myers Invitational, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Delaware County, has been one of the featured events on the Battling Bishops' schedule for 31 seasons. It honors Fred Myers, longtime soccer and lacrosse coach at Ohio Wesleyan.

Ohio Wesleyan-Texas-Dallas Box Score
Kenyon-Olivet Box Score



2008 Fred Myers Invitational all-tournament team

Dick Gauthier Award (Tournament Most Valuable Player): Kevin McGowan, Ohio Wesleyan.