ELSAH, Ill. – The W men's soccer played host and league leader Principia College even in the second half, but could not overcome a disastrous first stanza in a 9-3 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) road setback. The Owls dropped to 0-13-0 (0-5-0 SLIAC), while the Panthers remained unbeaten in the SLIAC at 4-0-2 (6-3-3 overall).
 
PC was on the board before most of the fans had even warmed up their seats on the bleachers, tallying a goal just 26 seconds into the contest.
 
However, in the 12th minute, MUW knotted the match on Cole Crawford's first goal of the season. Trey Parnell was credited with the assists that made it 1-1.
 
But the euphoria from Crawford's goal proved short-lived. The Panthers would not only retake the lead just 43 seconds later, but finished the first half on a 6-0 run to lead at the intermission, 7-1.
 
In the second half of action, the two teams swapped goals, with MUW's Kyle Morris netting a penalty kick goal in the 61st minute. The, after a PC goal, Ethan Barnes found the back of the net for the Owls' third tally of the evening and his first of 2024.
 
The W goalie Antonio Romero had three total saves. In all, Romero faced 12 shots on-goal by the Panthers. In all, Principia held a 32-7 advantage in total shot attempts.
 
Barnes ended up with three of his team's overall shots.
 
MUW will finish its current road swing to Illinois with a Saturday (Oct. 19/1 p.m.) SLIAC match at Greenville University.