PELLA — A trio of second-half goals aided the Central College men's soccer team en route to a 4-0 victory over Buena Vista University Wednesday.
           
Even with four goals for the Dutch (5-4-2, 1-2-0 American Rivers Conference), it was the defensive effort against the Beavers (1-8-2, 0-3-0 conference) that had coach Garry Laidlaw excited.
           
"I couldn't be happier with our backs today," he said. "Especially our center backs Alejo Marcon (sophomore, Resistencia, Argentina, Pella Christian HS) and Spencer Taylor (junior, Norwalk) who were solid as a rock today. They're developing in that relationship more every match and you can see the continuity starting to pay off."
           
Goalkeeper John Foster (senior, Lee's Summit, Mo., North HS) played the full 90 minutes and made two saves.
           
Nolan Piedimonte (freshman, Lee's Summit, Mo., North HS) scored his fourth goal of the season in the 12th minute to put Central on the board. He was assisted on the play by both Joe Brown (junior, Norwalk) and Jack Hillis (junior, Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS).
           
"Nolan was finding spaces all over the pitch," Laidlaw said. "He caused them problems from the beginning."
           
Coleman Manuel (junior, Erie, Colo.) made it 2-0 in the 60th minute, using a Piedimonte assist to score for the first time in 2023. Piedimonte was given a penalty kick in the 80th minute, the keeper stopped the initial attempt but Nick Colavita (junior, Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS) cleaned up the rebound to make it 3-0.
           
"Coleman has goals in him and he's proven that before," Laidlaw said. "Nick's been biting at the chance to get in. We know he's got production in him, and I hope that will motivate him for the rest of the season."
           
Making his varsity debut Luke Crawford (sophomore, Eldridge, Iowa, North Scott HS) scored in the final minute. Taylor had the assist.
           
"Luke has been doing so well with the reserves," Laidlaw said. "We decided to give him a chance and brought him up for training yesterday. Good for him to go out in his first match and bag a goal."
           
Central plays its final non-conference match Friday at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville at 7 p.m.