The MNU Men's soccer team faced their second NAIA Nationally ranked team in a row on Wednesday. The Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes came to town boasting a #14 ranking in the latest poll.
The first half you would not have known that either team were concerned about the other.
The game was played at a pedestrian pace and there was limited action in either box.
The 2 chances that KWU did create they scored on and so, MNU went into halftime facing a 2-0 deficit.
KWU's goals came at the 13 and 42 minute mark respectively.
The second half took on the look of a game that you would expect from 2 talented teams.
MNU stepped up their pressure and began to compete.
Their first goal came just 10 minutes into the second half, with
Gyer Vierthaler scoring from a
Taylor Esparza assist.
In the 62nd minute. Then
Trent Remmich scored from an
Aurelien Norest assist to tie the game at 2.
After the Pioneers tied the game, the intensity of the match went up significantly.
The go-ahead goal was completed in the 71
st minute by
Michael Shadfar as Norest earned his 2nd assist of the game.
KWU was not done however, as they continued to fight back, and in the 77th minute they tied the game at 3 with a set piece goal.
Both teams were now staring overtime in the face. The Pioneers, however, had other ideas as just 90 seconds later they earned a penalty kick and Remmich stepped up to bury his second of the game and the eventual game winner.
The game ended with a flurry of long balls and MNU were victorious by a final count of 4-3.
With the win MNU moves their record to 6-3 on the season. The next match will be a 3:00 pm contest on Saturday, September 24th against Madonna University out of Michigan. Come out and support the Pioneers as they look to put up another W.
