PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University men's soccer team burst out of the gates with three goals early on and snapped a five-game losing streak in resounding fashion, shutting out Illinois Institute of Technology 5-0 Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field.

The Muskies dominated almost from the start on a beautiful autumn day with the fall harvest taking place in the fields behind campus and won for the second time in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play and the third time overall this season. Lakeland improved to 3-8-1 overall and 2-6 in conference, handling a team well ahead in the NACC standings coming into the day.

Playing at home for just the third time in 12 games and the first time in two weeks, the Muskies put Illinois Tech (4-5-6 overall, 3-3-1 NACC) on its heels from the time Andres Gonzalez (Sr.-Jamul, Calif.) scored 1 minute, 54 seconds into the game, heading in a cross from Alessandro Bianchi (Sr.-Venice, Italy). Lakeland added two more goals in the first 23 minutes, and then if not already with enough of an advantage would play the final 55 minutes a man up after a red card on IIT's starting goalkeeper in the 35th minute.

Bianchi assisted on the opening goal and then scored the second, making a run through the defense from his right defender spot. He dribbled through four defenders, working his way into the box and free for a shot from 15 yards out that scored inside the left post for a 2-0 lead.

The Muskies kept the pressure on in the 23rd minute, as early substitute Chris Aguilar (Fr.-Shorewood, Wis.) quickly made a play from the forward spot. Aguilar received a pass ahead from Aung San (Sr.-Charlotte, N.C.), settled the ball and after several dribbles found Gavin Pinchart (Jr.-De Pere, Wis.) making a run at the goal. Pinchart tapped the ball in past goalkeeper Marko Brajkovic to put Lakeland ahead 3-0.

Any chances of an IIT comeback took a big hit in late in the first half when Brajkovic drew a red card, putting the Scarlet Hawks down a man the rest of the match. The Muskies substituted freely throughout but still kept control, and early in the second half they added another goal when Michael Barragan (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and Michecadet Gethand (Sr.-Jackson, Wis.) executed perfectly a 2-on-1 opportunity, essentially a fast break ending with Barragan centering to Gethand who beat backup keeper Adam Falcigno for a 4-0 lead in the 53rd minute.

Lakeland added one more goal in the 70th minute, as Carson Galla (Sr.-Deerfield, Wis.) sent a ball through to Dirk Dell Adema (So.-Howards Grove, Wis.), who reached the ball before the goalkeeper and scored his fifth of the season.

Lakeland outshot Illinois Tech 15-8, including 9-2 in the decisive first half. Eduardo Campuzano (So.-Hinckley, Ill.) led the Muskies with four shot attempts, just missing in a number of quality opportunities, and 11 different players accounted for shot attempts for Lakeland.

Zach Heiman (Jr.-Racine, Wis.) made two saves in goal to get the shutout for the Muskies, his first of the season and the fourth of his career.

Lakeland is on the road for its next match, stepping out of conference to take on Ripon College Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. in Ripon.