DAYTON – The Wright State men's soccer team defeated Bellarmine 3-2 on Tuesday night with goals by Conner Osterholt, Cole Werthmuller, and Giorgos Petoussis. The nonconference victory marks Head Coach Alex Van der Sluijs's hundredth career win.
 
Wright State ended the night with nine shots, bested by Bellarmine's 14 shots, but came out on top with six shots on target to the Knight's four. The Raiders had two corner kicks to Bellarmine's six, and two saves to the Knight's three.
 
Edwin Espinal-Elvir led the Raiders with two shots, putting one on target. Brian Burkett and Henry Hutchinson had one shot on goal, while Felix Ezekwuka and Jack Jenkins had one shot each. Goalkeeper Alessandro Malterer logged all 90 minutes, recording two saves. Joining him in the complete game were Brock Pickett and Samuel Rudjord.
 
Both the Raiders and Bellarmine put up three shots in the first half, with all three of the Raider's shots finding the back on the net. The first goal came in the 20th minute, as Burkett took a free kick in the far corner, placing it in the box. The ball was deflected to just outside the 18, where Teun van der Donk made a direct pass to Osterholt to slip it over the diving Knight keeper, sinking it in the top right. Bellarmine reacted swiftly, tying the score in the 22nd minute with a goal by Martin Cadagan.
 
The score did not stay even for long, as Petoussis took a free kick near the opposing bench, putting it outside the penalty area where Zakaria Amro headed it to Cole Werthmuller to score. The goal marked Werthmuller's hundredth career shot, as well as Amro and Petoussis's first collegiate assists. Wright State secured their halftime advantage in the 41st minute as the ball was passed in and out of the box. Osterholt gained control of the ball, passing to Petoussis in the penalty arc. Petoussis shot past a group of Knights and goalkeeper, find the top left corner for his first collegiate goal.
 
WSU goalkeeper, Malterer, recorded both saves in the second half, first in the 59th minute and again in the 70th. Bellarmine put up a fight, tallying 11 shots in the second half to the Raider's six. The Knights found success in the 74th minute with a goal by Colin Elder. Bellarmine would make two more attempts after the goal but were unable to tie the game.
 
The Raiders will play again on Saturday, October 26 at Detroit Mercy. The game is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff with live stats and ESPN+ livestreaming provided. They will return home for Senior Day on Friday, November 1, hosting Cleveland State for a 7 p.m. match. Wright State will finish the regular season at Northern Kentucky on Tuesday, November 5 at 2 p.m.