ST. LOUIS – Maryville University men's soccer took down the University of Illinois Springfield 4-0 on Friday to earn a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship game. The Saints will take on second-seeded Lewis University Sunday, Nov. 6 at Maryville Soccer Field.
 
The Saints, behind Kelvin Mulinya's two goals, defeated the fifth-seeded Prairie Stars to earn a trip to the finals for the first time since winning the tournament during the 2020-21 season. Maryville moves to 10-4-4 overall in 2022 after earning the first GLVC Regular Season Championship in program history a few weeks ago.
 
With strong winds at their back to start the game in the first half, the Saints got an early goal from Mirza Hasecic in the 20th minute after Fabian Wetl dropped off a pass to Tim Smith. Smith then sent a pass to Hasecic who headed it home for a 1-0 advantage.
 
Six minutes later, captain and First-Team All-Conference recipient Cedric Sengl sent a through ball to freshman Sebastian Weitlaner. The Graz, Steiermark, Austria, native maneuvered to find space and sent a low shot behind the goalie for a 2-0 lead.
 
Maryville tallied the third goal of the half when another through ball found Weitlaner from Braden Johnson. This time, Weitlaner turned and dropped a pass to Kelvin Mulinya in the middle of the box to continue a dominant first half.
 
Mulinya added goal number two at 73:36 in the second half after an assist from Victor DeGiorgio. The Prairie Stars had the wind at their back for the final 45 minutes, but they were unable to get one past starting goalkeeper Albert Escuin despite six shot attempts in the second.
 
Maryville will continue its GLVC Tournament Championship run in the title match Sunday, Nov. 6, against the Lewis University Flyers. Kickoff at the Maryville Soccer Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.