WICHITA – Jake Kennedy scored two goals in the opening match of the season as the Nebraska Wesleyan men's soccer team started the 2016 campaign with a 2-2 draw at Friends University late Friday night (Sept. 2) in Wichita, Kan.
 
The two teams ended regulation tied at 2-2 and neither team was able to score in the two overtime periods as the Prairie Wolves and Falcons played to a draw.  Friends had several opportunities in the second overtime period, but NWU goalkeeper Jack Nespor recorded four saves to prevent the victory for the home team.
 
Kennedy picked up his scoring where he left off in 2015 when he was the team's leading scorer.  Just over two minutes into the match, Kennedy and the Prairie Wolves made their presence known with a goal at the 2:09 mark.  The goal came on an assist from Logan Johnson.
 
Friends responded later in the half with a goal by Luis Vidal Pla to tie the match at 1-1 in the 18^th minute.
 
NWU wasted little time to re-take the lead as Kennedy struck again in the 23^rd minute for his second goal of the match.  The Prairie Wolves took held the 2-1 advantage and took that lead into halftime.
 
The lead wouldn't hold up as Leonardo Sosa Perez tied the match with a goal in the 59^th minute.  Perez was on the attack all match long as he finished with 12 total shots, including six shots on goal.
 
The Falcons had 25 total shots in the match, with 13 shots on goal.  That compared to eight shots for the Prairie Wolves, but NWU made their shots count and the defense held up against the attacking Friends team.

Nebraska Wesleyan will go for their first victory of the year on Sunday with a match at Waldorf.