Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – (RV) Midland University opened Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) play on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Dordt University. The Warriors, who went 5-1-1 in nonconference action, earned all three points in their league debut.
“It’s great to start conference play with all three points,” head coach Josh Nakayama said.
After Dordt controlled possession early, Midland settled in and applied steady pressure in the first half. Reigning GPAC Offensive Player of the Week Nacho Salmeron nearly gave the Warriors the lead in the ninth minute when his shot struck the crossbar. Midland continued to test the Defenders, outshooting them 5-3 and earning a 4-1 edge in corner kicks before halftime.
The breakthrough came in the 39th minute. Jaime Jerez lofted a ball into the box, where Thomas Gibson broke free inside the six-yard box and headed home the opening goal. Just three minutes later, the Warriors doubled their lead. After Dordt pushed numbers forward on a free kick, goalkeeper Tomas Reyes collected the ball and sent it long to Pau Vivas, who beat a defender and calmly finished past the Dordt keeper to make it 2-0 at the break.
Dordt battled back after halftime, playing physically and forcing Reyes into his first save in the 58th minute. Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Anton Forsch delivered a cross to the back post, and Marco Laenen volleyed it into the roof of the net to cut the deficit in half.
Midland’s defense held strong the rest of the way, limiting Dordt to just one more attempt as the Warriors secured the 2-1 win.
Gibson and Vivas provided the goals, while Jerez and Reyes recorded assists. Reyes also made one save in a complete-game effort.
“Not a pretty game, but we did what we needed to do to win,” Nakayama said.
The Warriors (6-1-1, 1-0 GPAC) will continue conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 24, when they travel to Yankton, South Dakota, to face Mount Marty (2-1). Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
