MOUNT PLEASANT – Upper Iowa University scored three times in the latter stages of the match to overcome a solid opening effort by the Iowa Wesleyan College men’s soccer team and defeat the Tigers 3-1 at East Lake Park Wednesday afternoon.
Upper Iowa scored all three of its goals in the final 21 minutes, defeating IWC for the second straight year and improving to 5-4-1 on the season. The Tigers dropped their seventh straight match and are now 1-8.
The loss spoiled a match in which IWC made all the right moves for nearly 70 minutes. The Tigers got a goal in the 11th minute when Alberto de Mesa (Jr.-Malaga, Spain) struck a teardrop from far outside the goalkeeper’s box and put it over Upper Iowa keeper Andy Youde for a 1-0.
IWC’s defense shut down the NCAA Division II Peacocks in the first half, with goalkeeper Chris Rennie (Sr.-Edinburgh, Scotland) making six saves, and the second half took on much the same tone until the 70th minute, when Jason Olsgard headed a free kick in to tie the score.
The Peacocks struck again less than six minutes later, when Craig Signorin turned at the top of the box and put one past Rennie for a 2-1 lead. Upper Iowa scored one more time not more than five minutes later when Josh Andersen took a pass from Derek Oelmann and slipped it in for a 3-1 lead.
Youde made three saves to get the win, while Rennie had eight saves in the loss. Upper Iowa outshot the Tigers 19-8 and put 11 shots on goal to just four for IWC. Zachary Messmer (Fr.-Louisburg, Kan.) and de Mesa both tied for the IWC lead in shots with two each.
The Tigers begin Midwest Collegiate Conference play on Saturday when both the men’s and women’s team head to Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids. The IWC women play at 1 pm, with the men’s match to follow at approximately 3 pm.
For more information regarding the IWC soccer programs or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
Box score UIU 3 IWC 1
