Box Score Records
Upper Iowa (8-5-1, 3-2-1 MIAA) || Simpson (10-4-2, 3-2 IIAC)
Recap
Monday's matchup with Simpson College marked a first and a last for the Upper Iowa Men's Soccer team. For the first time ever, including Division II and Division III play, the Peacocks earned a victory against the Storm.
Fausto Ordenana made sure of that as he connected on his second goal of the season and the only goal in the game in the 67th minute of action on Monday. His score held as the game-winner thanks to a stifling Peacock defense.
The 1-0 non-conference victory also marked the very last time five seniors would take Pattison Field in a Peacock uniform.
Michael Hoeper,
Samuel Vivas,
Troy Parker,
Dan Rasmussen and
Jordan Bell were honored for their years of service after the game as part of the senior day festivities.
They ended their careers on a high note, despite a sluggish start.
The Storm offense was firing on all cylinders in the first half racking up eight shots compared to just five for UIU. Despite the lopsided stats, the game was a back-and-forth battle in which neither team could find the net.
Yet just as they've done all season, the Peacocks made their halftime adjustments and took it to SC in the second period.
Catching the Storm defense off-balance
Ryan Pinkerton collected the ball near midfield and sprinted toward the far corner. Moments later he sent his cross into the box from 15 yards out, but the ball ricocheted off an SC defender.
A scrappy player was there to clean it up and earn a scrappy goal.
The ball went right to Ordenana, who got under it and lobbed the ball over the head of the goalkeeper for the score. The Peacocks celebrated the goal and then realized there was still 22 minutes and change left in the game.
UIU went back to work on defense. In goal,
Jordan Bell was solid making six saves and earning his third shutout of the season – it was a fitting end for the senior goalkeeper.
The Peacocks were outshot 17-13 in the game, but held on in the waning minutes to seal the 1-0 victory at home. UIU – which is also guaranteed to finish above .500 for the first time since joining the MIAA – improves to 8-5-1 this year with the win.
Stat of the Game
Before Monday's 1-0 victory, the Peacocks were previously 0-8 against Simpson College all-time. In those matches, UIU had been outscored, 73-2.
UIU Standouts
Ordenana (1 goal), Pinkerton (1 assist).
Sounding Off
Head Coach Jason Carlson After the Win...
On the Win… "It was a good win, but to be honest we didn't play our best today. That's what is disappointing to me. With the last two games back-to-back and all the traveling we've done, it made today a tough game. I give a lot of credit to Simpson – they are a very hard-working team and they are really strong in the final third, they don't make a lot of mistakes back there."
On Fausto Ordenana's Goal… "I think that's exactly the kind of goal you want to get. It's good to see it come from someone who is a scrappy player. He's a fighter and that's what he did down there – he fought for position and made them pay."
Meaning of Getting a Win on Senior Day... "It was a special day for these seniors. We wanted to get all of the seniors in the game today – unfortunately, that didn't happen, but we talked to the team about it. We knew this was going to be a tough game – Simpson is a very good program this year, they have 10 wins and that's hard to accomplish. So we talked about the importance of wins late in the season and taking care of business here at home to put yourself in a position for postseason play."
Standouts… "I thought Ewers was solid on the backline today. He did a good job of shutting down their attack. Jordan Bell had a good game and
Marcelo Botelho came off the bench and had a great game at right back."
On the Week Ahead… "If we get a victory at Southwest Baptist on Thursday and Harding loses, then we're in the conference tournament. So this week ahead is going to be important. We're giving the guys a day off, but then we have to get back to it."
Up Next
The team will hit the road for their final two regular season games of the year. UIU will face Southwest Baptist this Thursday in Bolivar, Missouri at 1 p.m. before taking on the Lions of Lindenwood University on Saturday at 3 p.m.
