Sam Novak (Milton, Wis./Milton) provided a goal and the defense held the visitor to seven shots as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's soccer team defeated Central College 1-0 Wednesday night at Fiskum Field in Whitewater. This is the fifth time in fourteen games that the 11th ranked Warhawks have held their opponent to a single digit shot total. UW-Whitewater improves to 12-2 overall, and the Dutch drop to 4-8.

A fairly slow start by both teams resulted in very little action until the 14th minute. It was then that Kyle Clancy (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) found Sam Novak(Milton, Wis./Milton) down the sideline. Novak pushed the ball ahead of himself 2-3 dribbles and fired a shot from outside the box the landed neatly in the back of the goal for a 1-0 Warhawk lead.

While the Warhawk defense held the Dutch to just two first half shots, the Warhawk offense continued with pressure. The Warhawks made a strong push in the final five minutes of the first half, firing three shots, but the halftime score stood at 1-0.

Chris Lucatorto (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) releived Alex Buchman (Waterford, Wis./Waterford) in the net for UW-Whitewater at the half and was immediately put to the test. Lucatorto made a save in the 51st minute on a shot by midfielder Josh Phillips of Central.

Deklan Corbett (Barrie, Ontario, Canada/Innisdale) almost made it 2-0 in the 64th minute when he nailed a header towards the goal, but the Dutch keeper was in the right place at the right time to make the save.

Central turned up the offensive heat in the final ten minutes, but Lucatorto made another key save to preserve the shutout.

Lucatorto made three saves in the second half while Buchman went untested through the first 45 minutes.

The Warhawk backline and defensive midfield was solid throughout with Head Coach Tony Guinn citingKyle Clancy (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) as a top performer. "If you had to pick an MVP tonight it'd be Kyle Clancy (Palatine, Ill./Palatine). He came back from the midfield to help out on defense quite a bit," Guinn noted.

Simpson College will visit Whitewater on Monday, October 12 for UW-W's final regular season home game. The match is designated as senior day for the Warhawks, and Coach Guinn and the rest of the team will recognize Jared Denu (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee), Alex Buchman (Waterford, Wis./Waterford), Sam Novak (Milton, Wis./Milton), Jordan Wilkins (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) andKyle Ricely (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East). The match is slated to kick-off at 4 pm with senior recognition after.

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