Chippewa Valley Times

The sixteenth-ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team hosted Macalester College at Simpson Field on Sunday evening. After an evenly matched first half with goals from both teams, the Blugolds surged ahead in the second half to secure a 4-1 victory.

Nathan Donovan opened the scoring for Eau Claire in the fifth minute with a header into the top corner, assisted by Jacob Sampson. Macalester quickly responded in the 19th minute, tying the game at 1-1.

Despite a balanced offensive display in the first half, Eau Claire outshot Macalester 10-6. A pivotal moment occurred in the 33rd minute when Macalester was awarded a penalty kick. Spencer Banks made a crucial save to keep the score level.

Donovan scored his second goal of the match in the 65th minute with another header, giving Eau Claire a 2-1 lead. Will Miers and Sam Lynch added two more goals in the final minutes, securing the win.

Donovan led Eau Claire's offense with two goals and one assist, while Sampson contributed two assists. Banks stopped five of six shots to earn his first win of the season.

The Blugolds (1-0-0) will play their first away game against North Park University on Friday, September 6th at Holmgren Athletic Complex in Chicago, Illinois. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

For ongoing updates and information about Blugold sports, visit Blugolds.com or follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.