MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Warriors of Wisconsin Lutheran College claimed a 3-0 home victory over the Ripon College men's soccer team Thursday in the season opener for both teams.
 
A pair of second-half goals from K.J. McNealey Jr. lifted the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference side to win.
 
Ripon goalkeeper Kalan Narance (Waupun, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) made six saves for the Red Hawks. He and his defense kept the home side scoreless until the 41st minute.
 
Wisconsin Lutheran outshot the Red Hawks 15-7 for the match. Ripon pieced together a sustained attack a half-hour after the intermission as Abner Contreras (Round Lake, Ill./Round Lake) and Eli Dietzel (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sturgeon Bay) put shots on target that were saved by the WLC goalkeeper.
 
Pablo Gallardo (Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) attempted to cut WLC's lead in half in the 78th minute, but his strike was also turned away.
 
Thursday's match was the first of three road contests the Red Hawks will play to open the season; five of Ripon's first six matches in 2022 are away from Prairie Field.
 
The Red Hawks return to action Saturday, Sept. 3 when they travel to Plymouth, Wis., to face Lakeland. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.