Rio men cage Cougars in season opener

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Rafael Kawata had a goal and an assist and the University of Rio Grande men's soccer team did all of its offensive damage in the first half, posting a 3-1 season-opening win over Saint Xavier (Ill.) University, Thursday night, in the opening round of the RedStorm Classic at Evan E. Davis Field.
     The contest was also the first of the season for the visiting Cougars.
     Kawata - a sophomore from Sao Paulo, Brazil - had the assist on the first score of the night, which came just 4:38 into the match, with a crossing pass from the left wing that freshman David Palade (Constanta, Romania) headed into the net out of mid-air for a 1-0 advantage.
     Kawata's goal came with 1:51 left before halftime off an assist by senior Scott Gray (Strathaven, Scotland) and pushed the lead to 3-0.
     It also came just 46 seconds after freshman Giorgos Marvis (Larnaca, Cyprus) scored via a feed from freshman Daniel Christofi (Larnaca, Cyprus).
     Rio Grande enjoyed an 11-0 first half cushion in shots and finished with a 16-3 edge for the game, including 8-1 in shots on frame.
     The RedStorm also were responsible for five of the game's six corner kick opportunities.
     Saint Xavier avoided a shutout when Aidan Breslin scored an unassisted marker with 31:40 left to play.
     Senior Matheus de Campos (Brasilia, Brazil) got the win in goal for Rio.
     Joel Estrada had five saves in a losing cause for the Cougars.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Saturday in the second round of the Classic when it hosts Cumberland (Tenn.) University. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
     Cumberland defeated the University of Northwestern Ohio, 5-0, in Thursday's opening game.