Casey Weddle Interview | Coach Merrick Interview

COLUMBUS, Ohio - After a scoreless first half and a slow start to the second, Ohio Dominican's men's soccer team erupted for three second half goals to outdistance Indianapolis, 3-1, in their season opener at Panther Field on Friday evening.

After just four shots in the first frame, ODU asserted the offense in the second, finishing with 11 shots, including six shots on goal. Junior Casey Weddle (Cincinnati, OH) opened the scoring for the Panthers as he collected a loose ball in front of the net after the goalkeeper was unable to corral it off a header, and put it in with just over 38 minutes remaining.

ODU continued to force the tempo and less than three minutes later went up 2-0 as Weddle with a pass ahead found a streaking Justin Wheeler (Jr./Gahanna, OH) who nailed the shot from the close right wing from about 12 yards out.

The Panthers were not finished however, as freshman Frazer Fernandes (Gahanna, OH) added an insurance goal in the 79th minute, ripping a perfectly place strike eight yards away from the left wing to the far lower-90 for his first collegiate score.

The Greyhounds finally broke through in the 84th minute as Ryan Schmidt laid a cross from the along the end line near the short left wing to the front of the net where Micah Uemura got a head on it for the final 3-1 tally.

Sophomore keeper Dean Dziewit (Waterford, MI) turned aside four shots in 90 minutes of action to collect his first career win.

ODU, undefeated in its last five season openers, returns to Panther Field at 7 p.m. next Friday, Sept. 9 as it welcomes non-conference foe, Davenport (Mich.), for the second game of a four-game home swing.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu