Men's soccer salvages opportunities in season-opening win

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Spencer Cook got Simpson on the board early, Kyle Kusy added an insurance goal in the second half and the Simpson men's soccer team beat Bethel 2-0 in the season opener on Friday afternoon.

Cook scored the first goal of the game when he dribbled past the keeper on the right side, giving the Storm (1-0-0) a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.

Simpson held the slim lead until Kusy added to it in the 66th minute. The senior found the ball in traffic off a corner kick, burying the ball inside the right post.

The win helps Simpson improve to 4-0 in season openers under head coach Rick Isaacson.

Junior Zach McEntee made six saves in goal to earn the win, his first since 2011.

Danny Jaderholm put two of his three shots on goal for the Royals (0-1-0), who outshot Simpson for the second year in a row with nothing to show for it. Bethel took 12 shots to Simpson's eight, though each team put six shots on goal.

The Storm held a significant 7-2 advantage in corner kicks, one of which led Kusy's second-half score.

Game Notes: Simpson has a day off before hosting another MIAC foe in St. John's on Sunday at 7 p.m. in Indianola ... Mitchell White did not attempt a shot on the day, something that only happened once in 2013 ... he remains two goals shy of the school record of 36.