Soccer teams improve to 1-0 in HAAC play

Story by Lauren Bechard

The Baker University soccer teams are each 1-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference after taking down Culver-Stockton College.

The men’s and women’s teams traveled to Canton, Mo., to kick off their conference schedules on Saturday.

On the men’s side of the action, their 4-0 victory over Culver-Stockton comes as the fifth win in a row for the Wildcats.

Three of the four goals scored by Baker came during the first half. Senior Ben Coyle knocked one in first, just nine minutes into the game.

Sophomore Robert Hoeven and freshman Julian Sansano each scored their first goals of their soccer careers at Baker shortly after. Freshman Spencer Atkin picked up the assist on Sansano’s goal.

After his first taste of scoring, Hoeven wanted more. The midfielder scored the only goal of the second half.

Senior goalkeeper Matt Bickley racked up six saves between the pipes before freshman Ryan Akin stepped in to finish the game off for the ‘Cats.

The men are now 7-3-1 on the season while the women improved to 5-3-3 with their 3-2 victory over Culver-Stockton.

Freshman Krista Hooper took care of the scoring for the Wildcats, recording a hat trick with the three goals she scored. The forward now leads the team with six goals on the season.

Junior Rachel Theobald began in goal, but freshman Kylie Currie would take her spot for the second half of play. In her first action as keeper for the ‘Cats, Currie recorded three saves.

Both BU soccer teams will look to improve in the HAAC as they take on Graceland in front of their homecoming crowd Saturday at Liston Stadium. The women’s game will begin at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8:30.