Mustangs topple eighth-ranked Pioneers

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Mount Mercy rebounded from a mid-week loss with one of their best performances to date in a 2-1 victory over eighth-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene in Saturday's Heart of America Athletic Conference match at Hadzic Field.

The Mustangs (8-2-3, 5-2-1 Heart), who suffered a stinging 6-1 defeat at 14th-ranked William Penn on Wednesday, responded in a big way against the Pioneers (7-3-4, 3-3-2 Heart). Mount Mercy ended up with more shots (14-10) and shots on goal (10-3) than MidAmerica Nazarene and converted a couple key opportunities that proved to be the difference.

Ramon Somolinos took an in-swinging corner kick from the left side that was headed into the back of the net by Martin Fernandez to give the Mustangs the lead in the 12th minute. Mount Mercy had a golden opportunity to grow the lead but Pioneer goalkeeper Enzo Carvalho saved a penalty kick by Ivano Carrieri and the subsequent rebound attempt to keep the match at 1-0 late in the second half.

Not long after, Takumi Semba found Keita Karasawa inside the box for another Mustang score that made it 2-0 in the 81st minute. MidAmerica Nazarene stepped up the pressure and got a Rick Hovinga goal in the 87th minute that drew the Pioneers within 2-1, but Mount Mercy held on for the final three minutes to secure another home win.

The Mustangs have three games remaining in the regular season, beginning with a trip to Atchison, Kan., on Oct 20 to face Benedictine (8-3-2, 4-2-1 Heart) at 7:30 pm at Legacy Field. Mount Mercy's final two games are at home as Clarke visits Hadzic Field on Oct. 24 and Baker comes to town for Senior Day on Oct. 28.