Early errors prove costly for Mustangs

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Early defensive lapses were too much for the Mount Mercy men's soccer team to overcome on Saturday as 22nd-ranked Missouri Valley held off the Mustangs, 3-2, in a Heart of America Athletic Conference match at Hadzic Field.

All three Viking goals came in the first half and each were the result of defensive miscues. Sam Green scored two of those in the second and 32nd minutes. Sandwiched in between was a Julius Kruger score in the 11th minute. The Mustangs got one goal back before halftime, a penalty kick by Ivano Carrieri in the 39th minute.

Mount Mercy wouldn't go away after the break, either. They fought back and were within a goal after Carrieri's shot attempt was saved by Viking goalkeeper Vicente Benitez Delgado, but the deflection went right to Robin Sarret who headed in the rebound to make it 3-2.

The Mustangs couldn't get the equalizer though, and they suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Missouri Valley (4-3-0, 3-0-0 Heart). Mount Mercy takes a 4-1-3 overall mark and 1-1-1 record in conference play into a Heart match up at Park on Sept. 30 at 2:30 pm in Parkville, Mo.