MEN’S SOCCER KNOCKS OFF IN-STATE RIVAL LANCERS IN SENIOR DAY MATCH, WINS SECOND-STRAIGHT

MITCHELL, S.D. – Looking to continue its momentum, the Dakota Wesleyan University men's soccer program blanked in-state rival Mount Marty University by a score of 2-0 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Saturday from the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D.

Following a corner kick by Dakota Wesleyan senior Ronaldo Acosta (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) in the 10^th minute, both offenses struggled to kick start any momentum in the early going.

Rafael Calderon (Talca, Chile) and Lucas Paixao (Sao Paulo, Brazil) attempted shots near the 19^th minute, though both attempts yielded no score and the match remained knotted at 0-0.

Mount Marty followed with a pair of opportunities on goal towards the end of the first period before a late corner kick and shot on goal by Zarko Sinha (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Benjamin Lazcano (Concepcion, Chile), respectively. Despite multiple chances to score by both the Tigers ( 4-11-0, 3-5-0 GPAC ) and Lancers ( 5-6-1, 3-5-0 GPAC), the score remained deadlocked 0-0 at halftime.

The Mount Marty offensive attack opened the second period with a sense of momentum following a pair of corner kicks, however, junior Tiger goalkeeper Hunter Birozy (Norco, Calif.) and the defensive unit held strong.

In the 70^th minute, the Blue and Gray broke through for the first goal of the match capitalizing on an own-goal situation and garnered a 1-0 lead.

While the DWU defense continued the shutout performance, Calderon scored the game-sealing goal in the 89^th minute denying any chance for a comeback by the Lancers. Riding the junior left back's seventh goal of the season. Dakota Wesleyan secured the 2-0 win on senior day.

Birozy tallied four saves on four shots on goal while Calderon and Acosta combined for six shots. DWU posted 14 shots in the match along with a trio of corner kicks.

Dakota Wesleyan returns to the pitch next versus conference-foe Midland University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday form the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D. Saturday's match will be the final regular-season home match for head coach Brady Van Holland and the Tigers.