RIVERVIEW, Mich. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's soccer team took a big step in its pursuit of a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament bid with a convincing win over Rochester University Wednesday at Gabriel Richard High School in Riverview, Mich.
The Wolverines scored four goals in the first half, including a hat trick from Christian Cuevas to pull away early in a 6-0 victory. The win moves UM-Dearborn to 5-8-1 overall and 4-5-1 in the WHAC.
UM-Dearborn closes the regular season against WHAC frontrunner Indiana Tech on Saturday. The Wolverines are tied for seventh with Siena Heights University with 13 points in the league standings, while Cleary has 14 points and two teams, Concordia University and Aquinas College, have 12. The top eight teams will earn a bid to the WHAC Tournament.
In the win over the Warriors, UM-Dearborn got the scoring started early when Cuevas netted his first of three on the night, finishing a cross from Jack Barnett in the 11th minute. Barnett made it 2-0 on a goal six minutes later, while Cuevas added two more before the break.
Cuevas tied the program record for goals in a game with three, matching Richard Hodnicki (twice) and Ali Khcheiche. UM-Dearborn added insurance goals in the second half from Xavier Walser, the first of his career, and Tanner Wallace.
UM-Dearborn outshot Rochester 18-13, while Wolverine goalkeeper Brian Ostapenko made seven saves to earn the shutout. The six goals for the Wolverines tie a program record set in 2013.
The Wolverines close the regular season as they host Indiana Tech on Senior Day at 3 pm Saturday at Gabriel Richard High School.
