Purdue Fort Wayne Dominates Manchester 3-0 Behind Angel Rodriguez's Brace

FORT WAYNE, IN - September 10, 2025 - Purdue Fort Wayne delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over visiting Manchester at the Hefner Soccer Complex, powered by a brilliant brace from Angel Rodriguez. Rodriguez opened the scoring in the 10th minute and doubled the lead just two minutes later with his second goal in the 12th minute. Shane Anderson sealed the victory with a third goal in the 31st minute as the Mastodons controlled the match from start to finish.

First Half: Rodriguez Takes Center Stage

The match began with both teams feeling each other out, with Purdue Fort Wayne showing early attacking intent through multiple offside calls in the opening minutes. Manchester's Andrew Hochstettler picked up an early foul in the 2nd minute, setting the tone for what would become a physical contest.

The breakthrough came in the 10th minute when Angel Rodriguez unleashed a low shot to the left side of the goal, beating the Manchester goalkeeper to give Purdue Fort Wayne a 1-0 lead. The home crowd had barely finished celebrating when Rodriguez struck again just two minutes later in the 12th minute, finishing low to the right to double the Mastodons' advantage.

After Rodriguez's quick double, Purdue Fort Wayne continued to dominate possession and create chances. Christian Leon tested the goalkeeper with shots in the 12th and 15th minutes, while Shane Anderson and Marcos Soria also threatened. Soria hit the woodwork in the 18th minute, underlining Purdue Fort Wayne's superiority. Iann Topete was particularly active, taking multiple shots including efforts in the 20th, 25th, and 26th minutes.

Manchester struggled to create meaningful chances, with Alan Galvez managing shots that went high in the 11th minute and again in the 34th minute. Christian Munos also attempted a shot in the 12th minute but couldn't find the target. The visitors made several substitutions, bringing off Hayden Ettner, Nick Merrion, Chris Wilson, and Andrew Hochstettler as they tried to stem the tide.

The third goal arrived in the 31st minute when Shane Anderson finished clinically with a low shot to the right, putting the game beyond Manchester's reach. Marco Valencia had been instrumental in the build-up, having shots of his own in the 28th and 30th minutes before Anderson's decisive strike.

Second Half: Mastodons Cruise to Victory

At halftime, both coaches made wholesale changes. Purdue Fort Wayne substituted ten players including goalscorer Angel Rodriguez, Shane Anderson, Karsten Ternes, Jonny Hernandez, Marco Valencia, Christian Leon, Iann Topete, Ameer Shetiah, Sep Habibi, and Marcos Soria. Manchester also made multiple changes, bringing off Marcel Cuahuizo Gutierrez, Larry Cox, Garrett Hollis, and Admasu Mitchell.

The second half saw Purdue Fort Wayne continue to control proceedings despite the mass substitutions. Bryan Aguirre was active for the home side, taking shots in the 48th and 77th minutes. Ben Hissrich had attempts in the 55th and 62nd minutes, while Brandon Nunez, Abe Arellano, and Eliam Mier all contributed to the attacking effort.

Stefan Iricanin was particularly busy in the second half, picking up fouls in the 46th, 67th, and 82nd minutes while also managing shots in the 77th and 78th minutes. Christian Agyekum, Eason Haller, and Max Titterington all had opportunities as Purdue Fort Wayne looked to extend their lead.

Manchester showed more fight in the second half but still couldn't break down the Purdue Fort Wayne defense. Alan Galvez had another shot in the 79th minute, while Christian Munos attempted an effort that went high in the 79th minute. Cole Spagna and Garrett Hollis also tried their luck but couldn't find a way past the Mastodons' defense. Aiden Bryant picked up a foul in the 68th minute as frustration grew for the visitors.

Play-by-Play Highlights

Tactical Analysis

Purdue Fort Wayne's tactical approach was built on quick, incisive attacking play that caught Manchester off guard early. Angel Rodriguez's positioning and clinical finishing in the opening 12 minutes essentially decided the match. The Mastodons' high press forced Manchester into errors, with Rodriguez capitalizing on the space created.

The home side's depth was evident as they made ten halftime substitutions without losing control of the match. Players like Bryan Aguirre, Stefan Iricanin, and Ben Hissrich maintained the intensity in the second half, continuing to create chances and test the Manchester defense.

Manchester struggled to cope with Purdue Fort Wayne's pace and movement. Despite the efforts of Alan Galvez, Christian Munos, and Andrew Hochstettler in the first half, they couldn't create clear-cut chances. The visitors' defensive organization was repeatedly breached, particularly in the crucial 10-12 minute period when Rodriguez scored twice.

Key Performers

Angel Rodriguez (Purdue Fort Wayne) - The star of the match with his clinical brace in the 10th and 12th minutes. His early double effectively ended the contest and demonstrated his prowess in front of goal.

Shane Anderson (Purdue Fort Wayne) - Added the third goal in the 31st minute and was a constant threat throughout the first half with multiple shots and intelligent movement.

Iann Topete (Purdue Fort Wayne) - Extremely active in the first half with multiple shots including one that hit the woodwork in the 39th minute. His pressure and work rate epitomized Purdue Fort Wayne's approach.

Marco Valencia (Purdue Fort Wayne) - Created numerous chances in the build-up to the third goal with shots in the 28th and 30th minutes before Anderson's strike.

Alan Galvez (Manchester) - Despite being on the losing side, Galvez never stopped trying, taking multiple shots throughout the match and leading Manchester's attacking efforts.

Statistical Overview

The statistics paint a clear picture of Purdue Fort Wayne's dominance. The home side managed an extraordinary number of shots, with nearly every outfield player having at least one attempt on goal. The Mastodons' 3-0 scoreline could have been even more emphatic given the number of chances created, including two efforts that hit the woodwork.

Manchester's defensive statistics tell the story of their struggles, conceding three goals in the first 31 minutes while managing only a handful of shots themselves. The visitors' inability to test the Purdue Fort Wayne goalkeeper consistently meant they never truly threatened a comeback.

Looking Ahead

This comprehensive victory will give Purdue Fort Wayne tremendous confidence moving forward. The clinical finishing of Angel Rodriguez and the depth demonstrated through successful wholesale substitutions show the Mastodons have both quality and squad depth. The team's ability to maintain control even after making ten halftime changes bodes well for their fitness and tactical understanding.

For Manchester, this heavy defeat provides important lessons. The defensive vulnerabilities exposed in the opening 31 minutes must be addressed urgently. However, the fighting spirit shown in continuing to create chances despite the deficit, particularly from players like Alan Galvez and Christian Munos, provides a foundation to build upon.