COLLEGE MEN'S SOCCER: CORNING GRAD CORNFIELD NETS ASSIST AS ROBERTS WESLYAN ADVANCES IN NCCAA D1 CHAMPIONSHIP (2023-11-28)

Southern Tier Sports Report
Corning graduate Micah Cornfield had an assist as the Roberts Wesleyan University men's soccer team came out flying during its first game at the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Championships on Tuesday.

Toby Balaam and Luke Hanes scored goals in the first 18 minutes of the match and Myles Palmer added a final tally in the 88th minute as the Redhawks raced to a 3-0 victory over Southwestern Assemblies of God University of Waxahachie Texas in a Pool A contest at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex.

Balaam put the Redhawks (7-7-4) on the board, delivering his third of the season in the fourth minute. Hanes added his fourth of the season off an assist by Nathan Ferguson at the 18:00 minute mark.

"I thought that we really got off to a great start," Roberts coach Scott Reber said. "Putting that ball away in the first five minutes really set the tone for us and then for Luke to come back and get that second goal really put us in a favorable position."

Palmer sealed the deal in the 88th minute, taking a nifty pass from Micah Cornfield and blasting home a left-footed shot for his sixth goal of the season.

Roberts also received an outstanding effort from its defense. Junior goalkeeper Caleb DaSilva made seven saves for his fourth shutout of the season and both Robert Hinds and Hanes cleared the ball off of the line to preserve the clean sheet.

"It's just nice to get that first game under your belt and to get that first win under your belt," Reber said. "Now we need to rest up and get ready for tomorrow."

Roberts, which was seeded sixth in the tournament, will play top-seeded Campbellsville University in its final pool play game at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Campbellsville defeated SAGU 1-0 on Monday which means Roberts can capture Pool A with a win or a draw against the Tigers.

Roberts finished second in the NCCAA championships in 2022.

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