Box Score Post Game Report
Re-Watch the Game
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Three quick strikes from senior forward David Reinke within the first five-plus minutes all but sealed the win for the Marian University men's soccer team. A fourth goal in the second half made it a game to remember for the reigning Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Player of the Week as he led the Sabres to a 5-2 win over visiting Buena Vista University in non-conference play, this evening, Sept. 13.
Reinke surpassed his previous career-high of six goals in a single-season and made it seven scores through three games in 2013. Michael Ekstrom added his first goal of the season, while Jameson Hoerter made three saves in earning his first win in net.
"There aren't many players that get to do that," Head Coach Craig Peltonen said of Reinke's seven goals through three games to start the season. "It's impressive. He has made a conscious effort to become a leader and to make those around him better. Because of that, it has really opened himself up to more scoring opportunities."
Marian improved to 2-1 with its second straight win, while Buena Vista dropped to 1-4 with the loss.
The combination of Reinke up top with Danny Heerhold in the middle and Ramon Sutherland on the outside created more space than the Sabres knew what to do with.
"I thought we could make things happen out wide," Head Coach Craig Peltonen said. "We put an emphasis on that aspect throughout the week of practice and we did a nice job spreading things out in the game. Once you open things up wide, it created space in the middle."
Reinke scored three times (3', 5', 6') in the first five-plus minutes. The first and third goals were on Heerhold crosses, while the second goal went unassisted.
Leading 3-0, Ekstrom got into the act with his first goal of the year on a brilliant corner service from Nick Pizano to make it 4-0 in the 33rd minute. The Sabres dominated in set pieces highlighted by a 10-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Juan Flores Andrade converted a penalty kick in the 36th minute after a Sabre handball in the penalty area and Marian took a 4-1 lead into halftime.
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Reinke added his fourth goal of the match. Sophomore Zach Peltonen slipped a pass through two defenders and Reinke, with just the keeper to beat, right-footed the ball inside the right post to give Marian a 5-1 lead.
Reinke now has 21 goals for his career and climbs into 12th place on the all-time scoring list with 47 points.
Hoerter wasn't challenged nearly as much as his counterpart thanks to an effective backline in front of him.
"I was pleased with the way we played defensively," Peltonen said. "We've made adjustments and improved tremendously since our first game. It's a very young backline and it's taken them some time for them to figure it out, but we're starting to get it."
Nearly every position player for the Sabres saw action in both halves thanks to the big advantage early on, allowing several starters to get some rest in leading up to Sunday's match against St. Norbert College. The Sabres and Green Knights will meet for the first time since 1994. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Smith Field.
