PELLA — Posting its second consecutive shutout in American Rivers Conference matches, the Central College men's soccer team defeated Coe College 3-0 Wednesday.
           
Three different players scored goals and three other players recorded assists for the Dutch (5-6-0, 2-1-0 conference) against the Kohawks (0-8-1, 0-2-0 conference).
           
"It's always nice to see a few different players getting on the scoresheet," coach Garry Laidlaw said. "I thought all three goals were taken nicely."
           
Central built up a 2-0 lead in the first half, attacking in the same direction as the wind that was gusting 25 miles per hour and higher. Against the wind in the second half, Tony Cervelli (freshman, midfield, Plainfield, Ill., South HS) scored his second goal of the season off an assist from Josh Phillips (senior, midfielder, Morton, Ill.).
           
"With the wind in their favor in the second half, it was very timely to score so quickly," Laidlaw said. "It was a very important goal that I think allowed us to see the game off."
           
Zach Worster (freshman, midfielder, St. Peters, Mo., Saint Dominic HS) got his foot on a Miguel Pina (senior, forward, Chicago, Ill., Taft HS) corner kick to make the score 1-0 seven minutes into the game. Michael Anderson (junior, midfielder, Rosemount, Minn.) put one past the keeper in the 32nd minute with an assist from Nathan Casas (freshman, midfielder, Cottage Grove, Minn., East Ridge HS).
           
The Dutch used 27 players in the contest, including two goal keepers who split the shutout. Salvador Salador-Herrera (sophomore, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Park Center HS) got the start and three saves in 71:19 minutes. Andrew Mathys (junior, Elburn, Ill., Kaneland HS) finished out the last 18:41.
           
"Those guys work every day and have a great attitude," Laidlaw said. "We felt today was an opportunity to give them some minutes in a varsity game."
Central is now off until next Tuesday, traveling to the University of Dubuque for a 5 p.m. match.
             
"We knew we are coming down to a really important stretch of the conference season," Laidlaw said. "It's been a crazy, inconsistent year with the weather and a lot of back-to-back games. We feel like we are in a good position after three conference games. We're looking forward to preparing for the next one and trying to get another three points."