HASTINGS, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's soccer team came up short versus Hastings College by a score of 3-0 in its 2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference opener on Saturday from Lloyd Wilson Field in Hastings, Neb.
Both teams traded opportunities on goal in the first ten minutes of action including a shot by Dakota Wesleyan left back Luis Lescure (Panama City, Panama) in the ninth minute. Yet, the score remained knotted at 0-0 as the match progressed to the 18th minute.
After a shot sailed left of the goal for HC in the 17th minute, the Broncos (2-1-1, 1-0-0 GPAC) rebounded seconds later with the first score of the match in the 18th taking the early 1-0 lead.
The Tiger (1-7-0, 0-1-0 GPAC) offense tried to secure the equalizer with an attempt on goal by Rafael Calderon (Talca, Chile) in the 20th minute, though the shot was saved keeping the score at 1-0.
Unphased, the Hastings' offensive attack continued its momentum with back-to-back shots midway through the opening period, which included the second goal in the 30th minute. The goal gave the Broncos a comfortable 2-0 lead as the game reached halftime. DWU goalkeeper Hunter Birozy (Norco, Calif.), who finished with seven saves in the conference affair, secured a pair of saves in the first 45 minutes of action.
Out of the gate in the second period, it was the Hastings' offense finding the back of the net for the third goal of the match in the 48th minute and taking a 3-0 advantage.
A late shot on goal by Ruslan Rogers (Flower Mound, Texas) gave the Tigers a shot of getting on the scoreboard, however, the shot was blocked. Hastings held on for the convincing 3-0 home victory to begin conference play.
Dakota Wesleyan continues conference play next versus Briar Cliff University at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday from Faber Field in Sioux City, Iowa.