Spring-Opening Split - GPAC, Heart of America twin bill goes to the wire

OLATHE, KS. – Freshman midfielder Anna Ljulijic (FR/Neumuenster, Germany)'s first collegiate game-winning score paced Morningside College's victory at MidAmerica Nazarene Friday, March 12.

Ljulijic, taking a well-placed ball off the foot of fellow Maroon midfielder newcomer Freja Brix-Rasmussen (Svenborg, Denmark), dropped in a goal past the Pioneers' netminder in the 53^rd minute to give head coach Tom Maxon's squad a 2-0 advantage. MidAmerica Nazarene attempted to answer with a score in the 62^nd minute. Still, senior goalkeeper Alexandra Homan (SR/Omaha, Neb.) (Omaha, Neb.), momentarily wobbled by the home team tally, regained her form and held the Pioneers out for the final 27-plus minutes, ensuring a 2-1 victory that moved the Mustangs to 11-2-1.

Ljulijic's second overall goal of the year joined another freshman combination that produced the match's first successful strike in the first half. Freshman midfielder Eva Geiben (FR/Mainz, Germany) (Mainz, Germany) rocketed in a goal in the 19^th minute off an assist from forward Jil Hellerforth (FR/Luedensheid, Germany) (Luedensheid, Germany). Other statistical leaders for Mside were Homan (six saves) and sophomore midfielder Samantha O'Roy (SO/Antelope, Calif.) (Antelope, Calif.), who tallied two shots on frame along with Geiben.

MidAmerica Nazarene managed a split with a furious comeback, winning a top 20 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' showdown. Maxon's squad, looking to extend a string of six successive undefeated outcomes, rolled up a 3-0 lead as sophomore forward Robin Thomala (SO/Wipshausen, Germany) (Wipshausen, Germany) and junior midfielder Moritz Lusch (JR/Bielefield, Germany) (Bielefield, Germany) delivered an offensive blitzkrieg in the opening 25 minutes. Thomala scored in the first and third minutes, with Lusch adding a successful strike in the 24^th minute.

However, the host Pioneers had other designs on the verdict, answering right back with a similar amount of goals in just over three minutes for a 3-3 halftime tie. MANU broke the deadlock in the 79^th minute and added an insurance score in the 89^th minute for a 5-3 decision, dropping the Mustangs to 10-3-1. Thomala wound up the overall, and on-frame shots lead for Morningside (two), and sophomore goalkeeper Bjarne Huth (SO/Bad Vilbel, Germany) (Bad Vilbel, Germany) wound up with four saves to top the defense.

Mside concludes a weekend Sunflower State stay with a doubleheader at Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member Baker University Sunday, March 14. Match times are 1 p.m. for the women and 3 p.m. for the men at BU's Liston Stadium.