An Alumni Field record crowd of 1,342 watched as Zach Zwiesler headed the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute to deliver Wright State’s 1-0 win over Kentucky Friday evening.
The Raiders start the season 1-0 with the win.
“This win really sets the tone for the season,” Wright State defender Emeka Ononye said. “It is nice to see the work in the preseason pay off in front of a good crowd, we hope to get this crowd back every home game.”
Wright State coach Bryan Davis implemented a fast-paced attack over the offseason. While Davis said there were some flaws in Friday’s performance, he was generally pleased with the speed of his squad.
“It was a great team performance but we still have a lot to fix,” Davis said. “I am excited because my team I see in practice showed up but that being said, it is one of 18 (games).”
The pace of play seemed to dazzle fans but kept Kentucky from generating many chances.
“We are very fast but we’re built,” Davis said. “You have to drive teams into the ground to win. We make them chase us."
The contest was even through the first half as both teams tallied three shots in the scoreless half.
Wright State came out early in the second half on the attack. Eric Lynch fired a free kick that deflected just wide of the UK net. After a series of WSU set pieces, Gustav Svensson served a perfect ball on a corner kick into the box for Zwiesler who finished the tally.
WSU did not let its foot off the gas for the rest of the half. Kentucky’s best chance came in the 86th minute as the Wildcats sent a chance that trickled just wide of the net of Tyler Blackmer.
“To win this season, we have to keep being hungry,” Ononye said. “We can’t just get one goal and stay. We were hungry, we kept playing and that is why we won.
“It was almost a complete 90 (minute effort). The subs came in and gave us energy. It was just a good team win today.”
