SALINA, Kan. – Robert Davies scored twice, Brennan Ortega scored once and added two assists, Jonathan Fager earned his first victory as an Eagle, and Avila men's soccer (3-8-1, 1-5-1 KCAC) routed Kansas Wesleyan (1-9-1, 0-6-0 KCAC) 7-2 on Saturday night in Salina, giving the Eagles their first win in KCAC competition since 2018.

Avila men's soccer won four conference games in 2018. Since then, there have been four draws, many one-goal games, and plenty of close calls – including just last fall against these Coyotes – but zero wins. The Eagles' last win in a conference game came in a 2-1 overtime victory over Sterling in October 2018 – but on Saturday night, thanks to an all-time great offensive explosion, that four-year drought finally came to an end.

It was evident early that this game would go differently than so many have for these Eagles over the last four years. Ortega has made a massive impact in the midfield in his first season in Kansas City and was at the center of the offensive attack early, swinging in a cross from the left of the box that Malcolm Goswell banged in through traffic to put Avila up 1-0 inside of 15 minutes into the game.

25 minutes later, the Eagles were at it again. Avila won a corner that Ortega sent in for his fellow Floridian Vincent Escott to hammer back in across the goal. And just minutes after that, Ortega led the rush back in for a shot that KWU keeper Ronald Gonzalez saved, but Avila won a free kick for Ortega that he buried, increasing Avila's lead to 3-0. Davies then sliced in a left-footed shot from distance with under five minutes to play for his first collegiate goal, giving the Eagles a 4-0 lead at the halftime break.

Fager was strong between the sticks for the Eagles in his second career start, being credited with a ridiculous four saves in the span of 20 seconds in the first half. Kansas Wesleyan was able to solve him twice in the second half, but the Eagle offense was more than good enough to counter. Jaime Gomez converted a penalty kick in the first ten minutes of the second half to give the Eagles a 5-0 lead before KWU got on the board on a goal that was nullified three minutes later by Davies' second goal of the game in the 63^rd minute.

Shortly after, Avila won another penalty and up stepped Matthew Kelne, the veteran outside back, who converted his chance for his first collegiate goal to bring Avila's goal total up to seven. The Coyotes pulled one more back in the final six minutes but it mattered little: Avila men's soccer tied a modern program record with seven goals in a game and tied a modern record with a five-goal margin of victory in a 7-2 shellacking of Kansas Wesleyan on the road.

There's a ways to go, but the foundation has now been laid for Avila's path back to contention in the KCAC after the Eagles' first victory in conference play. With the conference season half over the Eagles will need to stack more wins in a hurry to have a chance, but the Eagles now can carry this confidence that comes with winning into the home stretch. Up next, Avila will return home to The Z to take on Sterling this coming Wednesday, October 12. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 PM; as always, you can watch all the action on the Avila Sports Network.