Morales the Hero in OT Victory

Box Score The MNU Men's soccer team continued their hot start to the season with a 1-0 overtime win at AIB College of Business on Saturday night. The men made the trip up to Des Moines, IA for the first road game of the year. On a perfect evening for soccer, the Pioneers put together a complete game for what Coach Wardlaw described as their best performance up to this point. "After the first 10 minutes, this was the best we have played thus far," stated Wardlaw. "The guys were sharp and looked really good through the attacking third. We created multiple chances and were unlucky not to get the goal until overtime. AIB is a solid team and credit goes to them for making it tough on us."
 
Early in the game, AIB was attacking the Pioneer back line with long balls. The guys looked flustered and were not getting extended possessions to relieve the pressure from AIB. As the Pioneers settled into the game you could see the momentum begin to shift. Not long after this the MNU chances began to come. AIB's goalkeeper was forced into action multiple times. He made multiple saves and the Pioneers hit the woodwork 4 times before the halftime break came.
 
In the second half the Pioneers came out and established control straight away. They hit the post on 3 more occasions and it seemed like it was going to be that type of night. As the half wore on, AIB began to get a few counter attack opportunities as MNU began to get more desperate for the go ahead goal. MNU's back line of Aurelien Norest, Alvaro Beltran, and Stephane Philippe did a great job of neutralizing those attacks.
 
Early in overtime, Eddie Morales stole the show. Just 1:36 in, Morales took a pass from Lucas Machado, turned the defender and shot the ball past the goalkeeper for the Golden Goal. It is MNU's 2nd overtime win in 3 games and moves their record to 3-0 for the season. They have yet to concede a goal. Yann Passet did not register a save for the 2nd game in a row to earn the shutout.
 
For the game MNU outshot AIB 22-2, with SOG being 12-0. AIB's goalkeeper registered 11 saves for the game. Next up for MNU is Morningside College in Sioux City, IA. Game time is set for 1:00pm on Monday.