Late header clinches draw for Mustangs

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Martin Fernandez and Ivano Carrieri teamed up on a set piece with 10 minutes left in regulation to level the match as the Mount Mercy men's soccer team came away with a 1-1 draw with 22nd-ranked Central Methodist in a Heart of America Athletic Conference opener on Saturday at Hadzic Field.

Jan Boettcher sent a long ball to Alvaro Perojo, who chipped it over Mustang goalkeeper Sebastian Thanner for the go-ahead goal by the Eagles in the 56th minute. It appeared as if that would be enough, but Carrieri drove in a corner kick that was headed into the back of the net by Fernandez for the equalizer in the 80th minute.

Mount Mercy out-shot Central Methodist, 10-8, while both teams put three shots on-frame in the match. Thanner stopped one of those shots and the other was a team save by the Mustangs. Niccolo Cabras played all 90 minutes between the posts for the Eagles, making a pair of saves.

The Mustangs (3-0-3, 0-0-1 Heart) are at Grand View (5-2-0, 0-1-0 Heart) for a Heart of America match on Tuesday at 5:00 pm at Cownie Complex in Des Moines. The Vikings dropped their league opener at home to Benedictine, 2-1, on Saturday.