Blue Knights sail past Wheeling Jesuit, 3-0

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The 17th-ranked UU men’s soccer team posted its eighth shutout after moving past Wheeling Jesuit by a final score of 3-0 . With the win, UU has clinched at least the No. 2 seed and a home match in the semifinals of the Mountain East Conference Tournament to be played on Thursday, Nov. 3.

The Blue Knights improved to 11-3-1 overall and 8-3 against Mountain East Conference teams, tying the program record for most conference wins since joining the MEC in 2013. With one game remaining in the regular season, UU is one shutout away from tying the school record and has now out-scored opponents 22-3 over the previous nine matches.

UU will close out the season Sunday at home against Shepherd with a chance to claim a regular season MEC title still intact. For that to happen, UU must win and No. 4 Charleston must lose or draw against Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday.

UU outshot Wheeling Jesuit 21-5 as Lewis Dunne (15’), Lars Blenckers (31’), and Jasminko Dizdarevic (85’) each scored a goal. Dunne received a soft pass from Thibaut Bourrier and finished left to right for the game-winner and his fifth goal of year. Blenckers tapped in his sixth goal, which have all come in the past seven matches, while Jasminko scored his first career goal off a rebound.

Nathan Jones earned his 22nd career shutout with three saves, moving him into a tie for fifth place among active career shutout leaders in NCAA Division II. Jones also ran his record to 10-2-1 on the year.

Kickoff at UU Stadium Sunday is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., following the women’s match.

Jones has been voted to the 2016 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Men’s Soccer First Team, which recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

Jones, who carries a 3.60 cumulative GPA, is one of 12 first-team selections on the NCAA Division II District 2 ballot and one of four student-athletes representing the Mountain East Conference. He will now advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-,second-, and third-team All-American honorees will be selected later this month.

The Academic All-District teams are divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. For more information about the Academic All-District and Academic All-America Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.

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