ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Mount Union senior Rylan Wikle (Olmsted Falls) scored two goals in a span of 6:31 with both assists going to senior Xavier Pinaya (Monclova / Anthony Wayne) to give the Purple Raiders a 3-2 men's soccer win over Denison in the season opener at Mount Union Stadium.

Mount Union got the first goal of the year in the 22nd minute from senior Colton Priester (Painesville / Riverside). The Raiders out shot Denison 4-3 through the first half.

The two goals from Wikle in the 46th and 53rd minutes then gave Mount Union a 3-0 lead.

Denison answered with two goals in a 1:25 span to bring the score to 3-2 with six minutes remaining in the game. Mount Union stopped two more tries by Denison to end the game.

Mount Union junior goalkeeper Tyler Venti (Hudson) picked up the win with three saves.

The Raiders next play at Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) Saturday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. in Pittsburgh, Pa.