Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University hosted Mount Marty University in the final Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) regular season game on a Saturday afternoon as they celebrated their 2023 seniors. An early goal proved to be enough as the Warriors won 1-0 over the Lancers. The result improves their record to 4-8-5 overall and to 2-4-5 in the conference.
The Warriors scored what would prove to be the game’s winning goal in the 9th minute as Riley Barratt collected the ball off the Lancers’ block, flicking it through a gap in the defense and into the back of the net.
The match was physical with 19 fouls and 9 yellow cards handed out. Midland was called for 5 fouls to Mount Marty’s 14. The Lancers had five cautions to the Warriors’ four.
Senior Marco Moresco played the full 90 minutes in his final home contest, earning the clean sheet with five saves on the afternoon.
“I am very impressed with the resolve of the team today. They played inspired on our senior day,” commented head coach Josh Nakayama. “The boys knew we were playing for a playoff spot and needed a win. They got it. Amazing goal from Barratt. Great job by our defense and Moresco to get the shutout. We are ready for the playoffs and hope to keep it going. All the love and gratitude to our seniors. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior!”
Midland (4-8-5) will be the seventh seed in the GPAC Postseason Tournament beginning next week. They’ll travel to Orange City, Iowa to take on the second seed, Northwestern (12-4-2). The first-round match will take place on Wednesday, November 1, and is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. at the NWC Soccer Complex.
