HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The EMU Men’s Soccer team rounded out the non-conference part of their 2025 campaign on Tuesday night by playing host to Mary Baldwin at the EMU Turf Field. The Royals will enter ODAC play with positive momentum after defeating the Fighting Squirrels 3-0.
Kane Kiernan, a sophomore midfielder from Stafford, Va., was the man of the hour for EMU, recording a brace (two goals) on the night. Hamidullah Tokhi continued his stellar first college season with a second half goal, and sophomore Bryan Rodriguez Orellana added two assists.
EMU’s five wins is the most non-conference wins in a single season since 2019, when they also beat five non-conference foes.
Records: EMU 5-1-3 | Mary Baldwin 2-6-2
Highlights
• 37′ | After knocking on the door of a goal several times in the early going, the Royals finally kicked the door down late in the first half. Rodriguez put a shot on net that was stopped by Mary Baldwin’s goalkeeper, but Kiernan was in the right place at the right time to kick in the rebound that put EMU up 1-0 at halftime.
• 57′ | Kiernan doubled his goal total on the night early in the second half. On a very similar play to the first goal, Rodriguez sent in a cross from the left of the box that was deflected by the Fight Squirrels keeper. Kiernan then ran in to boot the ball into the net as the Royals took a 2-0 lead.
• 60′ | A few minutes later, Tokhi put the cherry on top of a great team-wide performance for the Royals. Tokhi made a run into the right side of the box, evaded a defender and then hammered the ball with his left foot into the lower left corner of the net to make it EMU 3, Mary Baldwin 0.
• The Royals controlled the ball for most of the game, putting up 15 shots on goal to Mary Baldwin’s 3.
• Andrew Arledge, a senior from Fredericksburg, Va., made his return to the net in the second half after Ryan Bousfield started the game in the first half. Arledge collected two saves in 45 minutes of play.
Statistical Leaders
Goals: Kiernan (2), Tokhi (1)
Assists: Rodriguez (1)
Saves: A. Arledge (2), Bousfield (1)
What’s Next
The EMU Men’s Soccer team will begin the ODAC portion of their schedule this Saturday, Sept. 27 with a trip to reigning conference champion Washington & Lee. Opening kick is slated for 3:30 p.m.
— EMU Athletics —
