LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Wesleyan University men's soccer team built a three-goal lead before holding off a late rally to defeat Simpson 3-2 on Tuesday evening (Oct. 13) at Abel Stadium.
Caden Carpenter scored in the 19th minute to give the Prairie Wolves an early lead in his first career start.
Max Matthies beat his defender and sent a cross into the box, where Carpenter tapped the ball into the open net for his first career goal.
Nebraska Wesleyan doubled its lead in the 42nd minute when
Jayden Fullerton scored his first collegiate goal.
Thomas Pisasale intercepted a poor touch by a Simpson midfielder and played the ball into Fullerton's run. The Lincoln native carried the ball into the box, created enough space to shoot from an angle and slipped the ball past the Simpson goalkeeper for a 2-0 advantage in front of the home pink-out crowd.
Juan Ramirez extended the lead just 50 seconds into the second half with his first career goal. On a free kick from deep in NWU's defensive half, defender
Brenden Zuerlein launched the ball downfield to Matthies, who headed it into the path of Ramirez. The Rio Rancho, New Mexico, native fired a shot over the Simpson goalkeeper and into the net for a spectacular goal that proved to be the game-winner.
Simpson responded in the 53rd minute when Iain MaCrae capitalized on a loose ball just outside the box and fired past NWU goalkeeper
Christian Lindseth.
The Storm pulled within one in the closing minutes when Tate Downs received the ball on the left side and made a cut to the top left of the box and fired a ripper into the top-right shelf of the goal past the fully outstreched arms of Lindseth.
Lindseth finished with five saves for the Prairie Wolves, while Simpson goalkeeper Nate Hersom recorded four.
With the win, NWU improved to 5-5-1 on the season, 2-1 in American Rivers Conference play.
The Prairie Wolves return to conference action Saturday, Oct. 17, when they travel to Dubuque. Kickoff against the Spartans is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
