Yellowjackets edge Mustangs in home finale

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Graceland answered Mount Mercy's game-tying score with the go-ahead goal late in the first half and then held off the Mustangs over the final 45 to win Wednesday's Heart of America Athletic Conference women's soccer match, 2-1, at Hadzic Field.

The Yellowjackets earned the win despite being out-shot, 17-7. They also had just five shots on goal compared to 13 by the Mustangs, but they made them count. Rachael Armit put Graceland in front less than two minutes into the contest and it remained 1-0 until Miran Sakai converted a penalty kick in the 43rd minute.

That momentum switch didn't last long, however, as the Yellowjackets (5-12-0, 4-8-0 Heart) took the kickoff and Celeste Robledo found Talia Martinez for the game-winner less than 30 seconds later. Grace Byers stopped three shots for the Mustangs while Yellowjacket keeper Jordin Holmquist-Wilder saved 12-of-13 shots on goal by Mount Mercy (3-10-1, 1-9-0 Heart).

The Mustangs travel to Atchison, Kan., on Saturday for their season finale against Benedictine at 5:00 pm at Legacy Field.