Pioneers Lose First of the Season

Box Score The MNU Men's Soccer team picked up their first loss of the season this afternoon at Pioneer Field. In a very atypical Pioneer game, there were plenty of goals. #12 Grandview University won the game with a final score of 4-3. MNU had not given up a goal this year in their previous 4 matches.

The game got off to a fast start. In just the 9th second of the game, MNU scored the first goal. Aurelien Norest played Atanas Karagyaurov with a long ball off of the kickoff and he buried the ball into the net with a volley. In the 27th minute the Vikings were able to level the game. After a foul was called in the box against the Pioneers, Sam Blackman for GVU was able to convert the ensuing penalty kick to tie the game. The Vikings then took the lead in the 35th minute to take the lead when Aaron Scott scored with a great strike from 35 yards out. Just 90 seconds later, MNU tied it up when Aurelien Norest flicked on a long throw in from Eddie Morales and Eduardo Heringer was there to head the ball into the net. Heringer completed his brace in the 40th minute with a goal from a direct kick outside the box. MNU took a 3-2 lead into halftime.
 
The first part of the second half was a bit of a stalemate. MNU was doing well in absorbing GVU's pressure as they pushed for the equalizing goal. They also spurned two great chances to extend the lead in the process. And as good teams do, GVU punished for the misses. With under 20 minutes to go, Bruno Henrique worked his way through multiple MNU defenders and put the ball past Yann Passet to make the score 3-3. In the 78th minute the Vikings were on top when they finished off a counter attack after defending a MNU set piece on the opposite end. Scott scored his second for the game winner.
 
For the game MNU outshot GVU 12-8, with SOG being 5-5. GVU's goalkeeper was credited with 2 saves. Passet for MNU had 1 save in the match. GVU is now 3-1 on the year. MNU's record falls to 4-1.  Things don't get easier for the Pioneers as they will take on #6 Hastings College on Friday, September 12 at Pioneer Field at 5:00.