Wichita, Kan. - Friends University men's soccer reached a significant milestone Saturday afternoon (Oct. 17), recording its 10th win of the season for the first time since 2021 with a dominant 9-0 shutout of Bethel College at Adair-Austin Stadium. The Falcons now have eight shutouts of the season thanks to great goalkeeping and defensive play.
The Falcons improved to 10-3-1 overall and 8-1-0 in KCAC play, reaching double-digit victories for the first time in five seasons. With the win, Friends also sits alone in first place in the KCAC men's soccer standings, ahead of Oklahoma Wesleyan in second and Ottawa in third.
Friends wasted little time taking control, scoring seven goals in the opening half. Austin Wyn Davies opened the scoring in the fourth minute off an assist from Eduardo Enrique Gomez Montt. Wyn Davies struck again in the 13th minute, finishing a pass from Jose Quiel to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead.
Quiel added a goal in the 25th minute off an assist from Finn Kelly before Gomez Montt scored in the 36th minute, assisted by Diego Marin. Fernando Suarez Picatoste found the net less than two minutes later, with Gomez Montt providing the assist. Gomez Montt then scored his second goal of the half in the 42nd minute before Wyn Davies completed his hat trick in the 43rd minute, again assisted by Gomez Montt, sending Friends into halftime with a commanding 7-0 advantage.
The Falcons continued their offensive pressure after the break. Marin scored in the 60th minute off an assist from Wyn Davies, extending the lead to 8-0. The Falcons then decided to change out the starters with 30 minutes left.
Elijah Castillo capped the scoring in the 83rd minute, finishing a pass from Sebastian Delgado to secure the 9-0 victory.
Wyn Davies led Friends with a hat-trick and an assist, while Gomez Montt recorded two goals and three assists. Quiel and Marin each contributed a goal and an assist, while Suarez Picatoste and Castillo added a goal apiece. Gomez Montt's three assists helped fuel the Falcons' explosive first-half performance. Wyn Davies has two hat-tricks on the season and leads the Falcons in goals with 12.
Friends controlled the match from start to finish, outshooting Bethel 24-5 and holding a 15-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Falcons also earned six corner kicks to Bethel's five.
Goalkeeper Cameron Stout made three saves to preserve the shutout as Friends recorded its 10th victory of the season and strengthened its position atop the KCAC standings. Stout recorded his fifth shutout of the season and is posting 0.43 goals allowed per game.
With double-digit wins reached for the first time since 2021 and first place in the conference, the Falcons will look to carry their momentum into the final stretch of the regular season when they go to Evangel on Wednesday (Oct. 21). The game will be in Springfield, Mo. at Coryell Field at 7:30pm.
