Box Score After having the Friday night game canceled due to weather, the MNU Men's Soccer team was eager to get their season rolling. They did so in thrilling fashion this afternoon, coming away with a 1-0 overtime victory against Missouri Baptist University.
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The Pioneers controlled the entire game, but could not get the deciding goal in regulation. The Spartans were organized, resilient, and incredibly hard working and made it very hard for MNU to enter the 18 yard box. When MNU did get through they squandered their chances. MBU came close with a couple of counter-attacks, the best one late in the second half that forced MNU goalkeeper,
Yann Passet, to come up big with a crucial save. Regulation ended in a scoreless tie.
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The breakthrough for MNU came just 3 minutes into the overtime period.
Alvaro Beltran played a ball across to the back post where
Lucas Machado was waiting. He jumped and volleyed the pass with the inside of his left foot into the upper corner of the near post. The golden goal sealed MNU's first win of the season. Passet, along with defenders Beltran,
Aurelien Norest, and
Stephane Philippe earned the shutout.
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For the game, MNU outshot MBU 16-3, with shots on goal (SOG) being 3-1. John Schnurbusch for MBU had 3 saves. Passet for MNU had 1 save. MBU moves their record to 0-1-1 on the year. MNU is 1-0. Next up for MNU are the Braves from Ottawa University. The game is Tuesday at 5:30pm at Pioneer Field. These two teams played last year with MNU winning the game 1-0. Come out and support your Pioneer team.
