CLINTON, Iowa - Freshman midfielder Andy Kavanagh of Dublin, Ireland, will remember his first goal in an Ashford University uniform for a long time.

The Irish reserve found a crease in the defense in the 83rd minute of the second half to score his first collegiate goal and snap a 3-3 tie in a fierce non-conference battle against Illinois Institute of Technology in the Saints' home opener.

Wednesday's 4-3 win marked the Saints' first of the season after beginning the year with successive double-overtime draws against Northwestern College and Dordt College, respectively.

University of Illinois-Chicago transfer Bart Bogusewski of Blatystok, Poland, scored less than three minutes after the opening whistle and defenders Michael Handley of Webb City, Mo., and Damian Ryan of Bettendorf each scored rare goals.

"This was a tough, physical game, but we battled well out there," said Kavanagh afterwards. "I just saw the ball breaking at the edge of the box late in the game and wanted to capitalize on the opportunity. As a team, we've been working on creating chances to get more shots on goal and today we proved it when we needed it."

Freshmen Hunter McVietty of Geneseo, Ill., and Sam Etim of Rockford, Ill., combined on the game-winning assist. McVietty made a deep run down the side of the Saints' bench to center a pass to Etim before he fought off a pair of charging defenders to find Kavanaugh alone.

IIT goalkeeper Sam Winstanley could only watch standing up as the ball rolled to the back right corner of the net.

The Saints executed the corner kick to near perfection in this game, crashing the box to cash in on three goals from the set play. Brazilians Eduardo Cruz and Rafael Machado of Sao Paulo sent well-placed kicks in front of Winstanley and the Scarlet Hawks were caught out of position.

Machado assisted the goals by Handley and Ryan while Cruz was credited with the helper for the opening score.

But IIT was relentless on the offensive end, spending most of the second period in the Saints' half of the field. IIT outshot Ashford 23-9, but that only brought out a sterling effort from senior AU goalkeeper Nick Roman of Belvidere, Ill.

Roman made 10 saves from all different kinds of angles, altering several shots that clanged off the crossbar or ricocheted off the post. He was one save shy of his personal-best total after recording 11 vs. Mt. Mercy College last season.

Penetration from burly IIT forward Diego Dias in the box led to a pair of goals on penalty kicks after fouls were called. Dias, flagged for a yellow card after his first goal for excessive celebration, then found teammate Rob Rixer in the 59th minute to tie the match at 3-all.

The Saints host Midland Lutheran College on Saturday for another non-conference match. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

No. 25 Ashford 4, Illinois Institute of Technology 3 - Box Score