MIDWAY, Ky. — The Midway University men's soccer team closed out its 2026 season Thursday afternoon, falling 3-1 to West Virginia University Institute of Technology in River States Conference action at Midway Turf Field.
The Golden Bears scored twice in the opening half before adding a third goal late in the second. Midway answered just over a minute later, but the Eagles were unable to overcome the deficit.
With the loss, Midway concludes its season at 7-6-3 overall and 1-5-1 in conference play, while WVU Tech improves to 7-2-4 overall and 4-1-0 in the RSC.
Despite the result, the Eagles closed out a season that featured a pair of program records, including the longest winning streak and longest unbeaten streak in program history.
The afternoon also featured Senior Day festivities, with Midway recognizing members of its men's soccer program for their contributions on and off the field.
First Half
WVU Tech wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, finding the back of the net just 1:43 into the contest.
Joost Hermeling opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season, giving the Golden Bears an early 1-0 advantage.
Midway looked to respond in the 13th minute when senior David Castilleios recorded the Eagles' first shot of the afternoon, but his attempt sailed wide left.
The Golden Bears continued to apply offensive pressure throughout the opening half, forcing Midway goalkeeper Connor Vincent into a pair of saves in the 31st and 33rd minutes.
WVU Tech doubled its advantage in the 40th minute when Francisco Mustra converted a penalty kick for his third goal of the season.
The Golden Bears entered halftime with a 2-0 lead after outshooting the Eagles 10-2 and holding a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Second Half
Midway came out of the halftime break looking to cut into the deficit and began generating more offensive opportunities.
In the 56th minute, senior George Spencer forced WVU Tech goalkeeper Ramon Ferrari into a save, giving the Eagles their first shot on goal of the afternoon.
Just over a minute later, senior Martiniano Sansone sent an attempt high as Midway continued searching for its first goal.
The Eagles created another opportunity in the 76th minute when senior Miles Ezell put a shot on target, but Ferrari made the save to preserve the two-goal advantage.
WVU Tech extended its lead to 3-0 at the 76:31 mark when Kai Cooper scored his second goal of the season.
However, Midway responded just 79 seconds later.
In the 78th minute, Elijah Orren found the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season, with seniors Ezell and Saleh Ekuchi credited with assists.
The goal cut the deficit to 3-1 and gave the Eagles momentum heading into the final 12 minutes.
Midway continued pushing forward, with Rhys Dickson and Orren each recording shots in the closing minutes, but the Eagles were unable to find another goal as WVU Tech secured the 3-1 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Midway finished the afternoon with eight shots, including three on goal, while WVU Tech recorded 16 shots and seven on target.
Orren and Spencer led the Eagles with two shots apiece, while Ezell, Castilleios, Sansone and Dickson each recorded one.
Orren scored Midway's lone goal of the contest, his sixth of the season, while Ezell and Ekuchi each added an assist.
Vincent played nearly 87 minutes in goal for Midway, recording four saves while allowing two goals. Senior Landon Sorrell started the contest and played the opening 3:01.
The Golden Bears held an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks, while Midway committed 16 fouls compared to WVU Tech's 14.
Hermeling, Mustra and Cooper each recorded a goal for the visitors.
A Season of Program Records
Although the Eagles finished the campaign with a 7-6-3 record, the 2026 season featured several significant accomplishments for the program under second-year head coach Stu Riddle.
After opening the season with a pair of draws and a loss, Midway found its rhythm in September, beginning a historic stretch with a 2-1 victory over Transylvania University on September 15.
The Eagles followed with consecutive victories over Bryan College, Governors State University, the University of Cincinnati-Clermont, Kentucky Christian University and Boyce College.
The six consecutive victories established a new program record for the longest winning streak in Midway men's soccer history.
During that stretch, the Eagles outscored their opponents 25-6, highlighted by a dominant 10-0 victory over Cincinnati-Clermont on September 25.
The performance against Cincinnati-Clermont featured a hat trick from George Spencer, while the Eagles registered 37 shots and tied the program record with 25 shots on goal.
Midway also established a new program record with a seven-match unbeaten streak during the season.
The Eagles added another shutout victory over Cincinnati-Clermont on October 15, winning 4-0 to collect their seventh victory of the campaign.
The season also featured several individual offensive performances, including two hat tricks from Spencer, who became the eighth player in program history to record a hat trick.
Spencer finished the season as Midway's leading scorer with 12 goals and 25 points, while Ekuchi played a key role in the attack with five goals and a team-high eight assists.
Ezell also contributed four goals and six assists, while Orren finished the campaign with six goals.
The Eagles' offensive production throughout the season helped establish one of the more memorable stretches in recent program history.
Senior Day Recognition
Prior to Thursday's contest, Midway University celebrated members of its men's soccer program as part of Senior Day festivities at Midway Turf Field.
The Eagles recognized Connor Vincent, Sam Mylor, Andres Caro, George Spencer, David Castilleios, Miles Ezell, Landon Sorrell, Martin Escobar, Brian Alvor, Benjamin Bland, Saleh Ekuchi, Martiniano Sansone, Fredy Karezo, Christian Arnold and Dalton Cooper.
The group has contributed to the continued growth of the program, including helping the Eagles reach the River States Conference Tournament semifinals in 2025 for the first time in nine seasons.
Several members of the senior class also played important roles in Midway's record-setting 2026 campaign, contributing to the Eagles' six-match winning streak and seven-match unbeaten streak.
Thursday's ceremony provided an opportunity to recognize their dedication to Midway University and their contributions to the men's soccer program both on and off the field.
Looking Back at 2026
Midway concludes the 2026 campaign with seven victories, six losses and three draws.
The Eagles opened the year with a 1-1 draw against Georgetown College before earning their first victory of the season against Transylvania on September 15.
From there, Midway put together its historic six-match winning streak, which included four victories at Midway Turf Field and two wins in River States Conference action.
The Eagles also recorded three shutouts during the season, including victories over Cincinnati-Clermont and Kentucky Christian.
While the team faced challenges during the latter portion of its conference schedule, the Eagles continued to compete against strong opposition, including nationally ranked No. 9 Rio Grande.
The 2026 season also saw Midway continue building on the momentum established during the 2025 campaign, when the Eagles advanced to the River States Conference Tournament semifinals for the first time in nine seasons.
With a pair of new program records and several notable individual performances, the Eagles close the season having added another chapter to the program's history.
About Midway University Athletics
Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and its 29 athletics teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and USA Archery. For more information about Midway University Athletics, please visit www.gomidwayeagles.com or contact Tyler Beck at 859-846-5366.
