The MNU Men's Soccer team went on the road Wednesday to take on Central Methodist University. With both teams tied atop the conference standings, this game would go a long way to determining who the regular season champ might be. The Pioneers took care of business and won the game 2-0.
As anticipated the game started at an incredible pace. MNU had multiple set pieces and did a good job of controlling the match early on. In the 31st minute that sustained pressure paid off.
Etienne Proult played a ball across the top of the box to
Felipe Abreu. He beat his man off the dribble and fired a shot to the lower left hand corner of the net for the opening goal. Just three minutes later, MNU doubled their lead. A great defensive play by
Javier Beltran led to a sequence of passes by
Matias Cabello and Proult. Proult slid a slide rule pass to the far post where
Tanner Hunjak was lurking. He tapped home from close range for his team leading ninth goal of the year. The Pioneers went into the break up 2-0.
The second half was a very different game. CMU did a great job of keeping the Pioneers under pressure as they searched for that elusive goal. MNU's back line of Beltran, Johnny Keisers,
Jonathan Taylor and
Frantzly Zephirin did a great job of dealing with the pressure and the half wore on without many clear chances for either team. For the game, MNU outshot CMU 13-10 with shots on goal being 8-7. The Eagle's goalkeeper was credited with 6 saves.
Yann Passet had 7 saves in earning the shutout victory.
CMU falls to 9-3-1 (5-2) on the year. MNU is now 9-2-1 (6-1) on the season. Next up is another road game as the Pioneers head to Canton, Missouri on Saturday to take on Culver-Stockton College at 3:30.
