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After leading for nearly 35 minutes of the second half of Wednesday's matchup with visiting Mount Mercy, the Upper Iowa Peacocks nearly had a meltdown. The Mustangs tied the game with just over ten minutes remaining in regulation and it took one full overtime period and fifteen seconds of the second overtime before freshman forward Jason Bishop scored the game-winning goal. The 2-1 victory was UIU’s first of the young 2012 season and it came off the foot of a newcomer.

“I was surprised I started in the overtime period over some of the older guys,” exclaimed the small, but speedy Bishop.

The Elgin, Illinois native may have been surprised that he was awarded playing time with the game on the line, but his coach said he has earned it.

“He’s just a kid who comes to practice and works hard, day-in and day-out,” head coach Brian Bahl said. “It’s big to have a freshman step up for us. We need more of that from the others.”

Bishop was the beneficiary of a Marco Garcia pass and assist on the first controlled ball in the second and final overtime period. Using his speed to get past the defense, Bishop tried to get off a quick shot, but was blocked immediately by Mount Mercy’s goalkeeper Harrison Burgess.

Bishop kept after it.

The ball bounced off of Burgess’ hands and Bishop was left alone with a wide-open net.

Shot – score – game-winner.

It was Bishop’s first goal of his young college career and the 19 year-old was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates.

“I’m speechless,” he said afterwards, trying hard to contain his excitement.

A different freshman also made an impact for UIU earlier in the game.

With just over 16 minutes left before halftime, freshman midfielder Rafael Pedroso connected with a ball eight yards in front of the net, but if it weren’t for a deflection off a Mustang defender’s foot, the ball would have sailed wide left. It was UIU's first goal of the young season and the redirected kick and impending score gave the Peacocks a 1-0 lead that would hold strong until the final 15 minutes of regulation.

With time dwindling down and panic setting in, the Mustangs went on the offensive attack. Enrique Cortina tried to tie the game first, but Peacock goalkeeper Jordan Bell was there to block his shot. Bell couldn’t seem to control the ball though, and coming in hard was the Mustangs midfielder Veselin Karagyuarov, who gave the ball a tap to the back of the net and tied the game at 1-1.

The goal caught the Peacocks off guard and the Mustangs stole all of the momentum as regulation ended.

Neither team saw significant offensive action in the first ten-minute overtime period, but Bishop sealed the Mustangs’ fate with his game-ending goal with 9:45 left on the clock.

“A sudden-death goal is always huge,” Bahl explained. “There are so many emotions that go into it – joy, relief, nervousness – and all at once.

"We were able to dodge some bullets today and we found a way to keep ourselves in it and taste victory."

The win should keep the Peacocks, who are now 1-2 this year, feeling pretty good about themselves heading into next week’s matchup with Viterbo. UIU will head on the road next Wednesday for the first time this year to face the V-Hawks at 3 p.m.