Morningside thwarted in weekend home contest

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – The defender combination of junior Paytn Harmon (JR/Piedmont, SD) (Piedmont, S.D.) and freshman Logan Abernathy (FR/Lees Summit, Mo.) (Lees Summit, Mo.) combined for seven shot attempts, two of which were on goal, to lead Morningside College Saturday, Aug. 31.

Head coach Tom Maxon's Mustangs, searching for 2019's first win, answered a quick first score on the Elwood Olsen Stadium scoreboard by the visiting Waldorf University Warriors with a goal in the late stages of the first half. Freshman midfielder Merel Kooij (FR/Rockanje Zuid, Netherlands) (Rockanje Zuid, Netherlands) sent a corner kick into the Warriors goal box which was tapped in by freshman forward Cassandra Garcia (FR/Omaha, Neb.) (Omaha, Neb.) for a 1-1 tie.

Seemingly headed for a halftime tie to the delight of the home crowd, the Maroon's defense was dealt a second blow just before the break. Waldorf's Heather Kolona, who along with Bonnie Zuniga, proved difficult for the Mustangs to deal with, took advantage of a counter-attack and rifled a shot into the home net for a 2-1 visiting lead. Morningside mounted tries for a game-tying goal throughout the second half but couldn't post one, as they dropped to 0-4.

The Mustangs' non-conference schedule resumes Thursday, Sept. 5, as Ottawa University of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference takes a northern trek for a 12 p.m. kickoff.