The Basics
Score: MNU 4 – Missouri Valley 0
Record: MNU (9-1-3, 6-1-2), Missouri Valley (5-5-3, 3-4-2)
Location: Marshall, Mo. – Gregg-Mitchell Field
MARSHALL, Mo. – No. 4 MNU erupted for four second-half goals to power past Missouri Valley, 4–0, on Wednesday night, to claim the top spot in the Heart with 4 matches remaining.
After a scoreless first half, the Pioneers took control with a flurry of goals after the break. Jaxon Slaven broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, finishing a setup from Gil Brown and Thomas Giraudo. Antonio Mugica added a second in the 79th minute, calmly converting a penalty kick for his eighth goal of the season. Less than a minute later, Caleb Brueckner buried a shot from a Juan Ortega assist to make it 3–0. Jake Rainforth, in his first varsity match, capped the scoring in the 88th minute, heading home a feed from Vinizzio Bortolotti to seal the dominant win.
MNU outshot the Vikings 10–6 overall and placed seven on target, while the defense held Missouri Valley without a shot on goal in the second half. Goalkeeper Tobias Stirl and the Pioneer back line recorded their sixth shutout of the season.
Turning Point
Slaven's opener in the 58th minute opened the floodgates for a relentless Pioneer attack that struck three more times over the next 30 minutes.
Individual Leaders
Jaxon Slaven – 1 goal, 1 assist
Antonio Mugica – 1 goal (PK), 4 shots, 3 on goal
Caleb Brueckner – 1 goal
Jake Rainforth – 1 goal
Thomas Giraudo – 1 assist
Gil Brown – 1 assist
Vinizzio Bortolotti – 1 assist
Juan Ortega – 1 assist
Up Next
The next game is Saturday at #8 William Penn (7-2-4, 5-1-3) at 1:30.
