NOTE: Eddie Garza was credited with the game's first goal

OSKALOOSA, Iowa - The Ashford University (12-0-2, 4-0-2 MCC) men's soccer team remained unbeaten on the season and kicked off the first of five-game stretch on the road with a 3-1 victory over William Penn University (4-8-1, 1-5 MCC) on a chilly Wednesday evening.

The Saints remain a half game back of Grand View University in the Midwest Collegiate Conference standings at 4-0-2. William Penn fell to 1-5 in league play.

Grand View remains in the driver's seat at the top of the MCC standings after downing St. Ambrose University yesterday.

Temperatures dipped into the lower 30's, reminiscent of AU's senior day on a frigid Saturday last weekend at the Davenport Soccer Complex.

Senior forward Soroush Kalhor of Rock Island, Ill., scored a goal in the first and second half as Ashford eased out to a 2-0 halftime lead. He netted his second straight game winner after icing Iowa Wesleyan College last Saturday on Senior Day.

Kalhor, AU's all-time leading career goal scorer, moved into a tie for the team lead with teammate Eddie Garza of Rockford, Ill., with his sixth and seventh goals of the fall.

Senior defender Keith Caldwell of Garden Prairie, Ill., fed Kalhor for the game's first goal in the 23rd minute. It was Caldwell's second assist of the season and first since an AU win at Coe College (Sept. 1).

Sophomore Nick De Backer of Antwerp, Belgium, scored his fifth goal of the season just one minute before the intermission. The goal was assisted by senior Mike Lentini of Belvidere, Ill., his fourth of the year from the midfield position.

The Statesmen's leading goal scorer, Nik Rule, came through in the second half to score Penn's lone goal, but another strong defensive effort from AU goalkeeper Nick Roman (6 S) of Belvidere, Ill., closed out another Saints' win.

Kalhor scored in unassisted fashion at the 88th minute.

Ashford outgunned William Penn, 20-13, in shots. Sophomore Nathan Billany of Yorkshire, England, and Lentini each fired four.

Armed with an impressive 5-0-1 road record, the Saints will look to earn another conference win on Saturday at Waldorf College in Forest City. Game time is set for 3 p.m.