The Men's Soccer team extended their current winning streak Saturday afternoon at Culver-Stockton College. In the process they collected their 10th win of the season with a 5-1 victory. After a bye week and then two straight road games, the Pioneers now get to return to the friendly confines of Pioneer Field for the next three matches.
It took the Pioneers some time to set their mark on the game. The Wildcats were celebrating the careers of 11 seniors and that added emotion showed in the game. MNU were able to control possession but the CSC defense were doing well to limit the opportunities on goal. MNU's back line of
Frantzly Zephirin,
Johannes Keisers,
Jonathan Taylor, and
Javier Beltran were equally as stingy and the Wildcats were finding the best chances from set pieces. In the 31st minute, MNU finally found the opening goal.
Etienne Proult played a pass to
Dominic Harrington and after controlling the pass was able to beat the keeper to the back post. The one goal lead did not last long. Just two minutes later, CSC had a response of their own. After a foul near the sideline a set piece was delivered into the box where Wildcat leading scorer Alejandro Mentasti was there to head home past MNU goalkeeper
Juan Pablo Riesco. The score at the halftime break was 1-1.
The second half started much the same as the first half. MNU were controlling possession but chances were being limited to set pieces and corner kicks. The Pioneers did a good job of staying composed and patient and as the half wore on you could see the effects of the extended possession begin to take its toll. In the 66th minute, that game management was rewarded. A set piece on the right hand side was played in by
Matias Cabello. Taylor crashed the box and headed home from close range to give the Pioneers a lead they would not relinquish. The flood gates opened up after this. In the 69th minute Zephirin and Harrington played a sequence of give-and-go passes that led to a finish from close range for Harrington. In the 76th minute, Cabello got his goal. After dribbling to get out of pressure he found himself unmarked just outside the 18. His perfect shot found the right side of the goal to make the score 4-1. Just 16 seconds later Zephirin took a pass from
Luke Fischer, beat his man into the box and slid a beautiful pass across the face of goal where Harrington was lurking to finish. His hat trick was complete.
For the game, MNU outshot CSC 20-7, with shots on goal being 12-5. The Wildcat goalkeeper was credited with 7 saves. Riesco for MNU had 4 saves in the victory. ulver-Stockton falls to 6-6-3 (3-5-1) on the season. MNU is 10-2-1 (7-1). Next up is a home match against Graceland University. on Wednesday at 3:30.
