Streak Snappers - Mustangs end skid against Midland

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, is a date that the Morningside College men's soccer program won't forget for some time.

Battling Great Plains Athletic Conference rival Midland University tooth and nail all over the pitch at Elwood Olsen Field, head coach Tom Maxon's ended better than a decade of frustration against the Warriors, posting a goal in the final two minutes for a thrilling 3-2 decision. Junior Nico Renzi (Rome, Italy) took a flick off the foot of fellow Class of 2022 member Okan Golge (JR/Cologne, Germany) (Cologne, Germany) and lofted a high shot that MU keeper Marco Moresco couldn't clear and bounced into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner.

"Wow --- a great match for the fans with plenty of excitement and back-and-forth play throughout," Maxon noted. "(Midland) is a good program and has had our number for a long time. Our guys knew how special this win was afterward.

I think the biggest key was the fact that we were able to play together and do so quickly," he added. "Midland is physical and can draw you into tough situations. We couldn't have it turn into a one-on-one match for anyone."

Junior midfielder Moritz Lusch (JR/Bielefield, Germany) (Bielefield, Germany) got the scoring going early, rifling home a free kick in the fourth minute. As would be the case, though, the visitors answered with a score in the 30^th minute to make it 1-1 at the break. Lusch, producing a three-point afternoon, slipped in a perfectly placed corner kick in the 80^th minute that Golge snapped into the net for a 2-1 edge, but Midland had an equally beautiful set-piece as Thomas Crawford ripped a free-kick from around 20 yards out and found the upper left top shelf for another tie three minutes later, setting up the frenetic final moments.

"I wasn't happy with us giving up two goals, but our center backs are coming along," Maxon said. "Sophomore Max Hartmann (Halstenbek, Germany), junior Kai Schwagerl (JR/Stuttgart, Germany) (Stuttgart, Germany), and freshman Jonas Markfoged (FR/Frederikshavn, Denmark) (Frederikshavn, Denmark) have been improving each match and practice together. Jonas has been out for a little bit, but I think these three could be very good (back there), as Max and Kai showed themselves well (today)."

The Mustangs (3-0 overall, 2-0 GPAC) get another pivotal National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics test traveling to North Star Athletic Association power Bellevue University Wednesday, Oct. 21. Kickoff is 8 p.m.