.png&width=32&type=webp)
Purdue Fort Wayne
Western Illinois
Falkenstern Fuels Mastodon Win, 3-2
10/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 25, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN - Entering the match with no collegiate goals to his name, senior Britton Falkenstern may have slipped under the Western Illinois scouting report. The defensive midfielder, who had taken just seven shots all season, found the back of the net twice, including the game-winner, in a 3-2 Summit League win over Western Illinois.
But Falkenstern wasn't the only Mastodon logging his first collegiate goal. Down 1-0 after Leatherneck forward Oskar Gasecki scored in the game's 18th minute, IPFW defender Grant Welter had the answer. With just three minutes remaining in the opening frame, Welter took a feed from Raphael Martinez on the throw-in and beat the keeper far side from six yards out.
Welter's goal is the first of his career and marked the seventh different player to score a goal for the 'Dons this season.
Britton Falkenstern put the 'Dons second goal of the game on the board 15 minutes into the second half. He took a feed from Brent Helton and fired a left-footed shot past Leatherneck keeper Stephen Patterson for the first goal of his career.
Ten minutes later, Falkenstern again sparked an IPFW celebration as he gathered a beautiful pass from Max Touloute at the goal line and pushed it past Patterson to put the 'Dons up 3-1.
Just one minute later, Nathan Sanchez converted on a one-on-one opportunity with 'Dons keeper Donovan Dowling to cut the score to 3-2.
The 'Dons defense was able to hold on for the final 20 minutes of a physical second half to seal the 3-2 victory. In all, three IPFW players were whistled for yellow cards in the half.
Colin Helmrich fired a team-high five shots for the 'Dons while Dowling posted five saves.
The win is the 'Dons' first in Summit League action thus far. They improve to 5-10-2 overall on the year. IPFW returns to action Saturday (Oct. 31) as they travel to Indianapolis for a 7 p.m. match up with the IUPUI Jaguars.
~Dons~
