MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's soccer team hosted Waldorf University for a non-conference tilt on Saturday. Despite scoring a late goal, DWU fell to the Warriors by a score of 2-1 after conceding a goal in each half from Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.
After the Warriors (3-9) got off the first shot of the game, DWU began to pressure the Waldorf defense. Ryan Mix (Sioux Falls, S.D.) took a corner kick in the ninth minute followed by a header by Joshua Jones (Papillion, Neb.) that nearly missed its target.
After Waldorf made a substitution in the 19th minute, they began to return the pressure to the Tigers (5-8-1). The Warriors sent a ball sailing from their own defensive line past the DWU defense as Edoardo Accornero kicked the ball over the goalkeeper's head and into the net for the first goal of the game.
DWU notched a shot and a corner kick in the closing moments of the first half but could not even the score before halftime.
The Warriors doubled their lead with a goal less than two minutes into the second half to hold a commanding 2-0 advantage over DWU.
Despite a handful of corner kicks and shots on goal, the Tigers were unable to break through until late in the contest. With three minutes left to play, Benjamin Lazcano (Cancepcion, Chile) crossed the ball into the box as Alexys Santana (Hayward, Calif.) headed the ball into the net to make it a 2-1 game.
However, there was not enough time left as the DWU comeback fell short and the Tigers dropped the home contest.
Santana recorded two shots and a goal, as Nicolas Morillo (Barranquilla, Columbia) tallied three shots and a shot on goal. Hunter Birozy (Norco, Calif.) started in goal for the Tigers and finished with one save.
DWU takes on No. 16 Morningside College in the conference quarterfinals at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa.
