Courtesy of Midland Athletics
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Midland University was back in action in another Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) game on Saturday at Northwestern College. Despite a strong game in each facet, the Warriors fell short, falling to the Red Raiders by the score of 2-1.
Northwestern hit the ground running early in the first half, forcing two early saves from Hugo Sjoeberg in the fifth and seventh minutes. The first half was a defensive battle as the game went the next 27 minutes with just one shot being taken.
Northwestern started to build pressure as it outshot the Warriors 8-1 in the first half, including five shots on goal. Their persistence paid off as a corner kick was whipped into the box just before the half. Nino Berger was able to rise above the Midland defense and head the ball into the back of the net to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute.
The Warriors subsequently earned a free kick where Hugo Garcia-Rosado Duren took a shot from range that forced the Red Raiders’ goalkeeper to make a save to keep his team up 1-0 as the game went into the half.
Midland came out of the break pushing for an equalizer, earning five shots in the first 16 minutes out of the second period. The Warriors found the equalizer in the 73rd minute as Colton Costello got on the end of a long ball over the top. He hustled to catch up to the pass, kicking the ball into the box just before it went over the end line. Garcia was able to size up the ball in the box and leaped over his defender, looping a header over the keeper and into the net to tie the game at one apiece.
Northwestern battled back with a scoring chance six minutes later. Alex Ruiz was able to find space and power a shot off the underside of the bar and in from the edge of the box to give the Red Raiders a 2-1 lead with 11 minutes to go. The Warriors fought back with a couple of shots but were unable to find the necessary equalizer as the game ended with the Red Raiders taking all three points.
Hugo Garcia-Rosado Duran was able to get the Warriors’ goal on two shots while goalkeeper Hugo Sjoeberg picked up six saves in 90 minutes of work.
Midland (2-4-3, 0-1-1 GPAC) will be back home at Heedum Field on Wednesday as they take on Doane (2-4-2, 0-2-0 GPAC). The midweek match is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start on September 25 in Fremont, Neb.
