On a rainy day in Fayette, Upper Iowa picked up its second win of the season and second win all-time against No. 15 Northeastern State with a 3-1 victory on Friday afternoon. The Peacocks were forced to come back from a 1-0 deficit early in the second half, but rallied for three goals in the final 28 minutes. Three different players scored for UIU, including first goals of the season for freshman Dominic Boland and senior Leandro Pena. The win gave Upper Iowa (10-3-1, 3-2 MIAA) its 10th win of the season, tying the total from 2014 and 2011. Northeastern State fell to 9-5 and 3-2 in conference play.The RiverHawks came into the day as the top-ranked team in the region in both the NSCAA and NCAA polls, while the Peacocks were fourth in both. However, after UIU defeated NSU earlier this season, the Peacocks catapulted to the top of the Central Region ranks.
In a scoreless first half, both teams had a couple chances to score but neither was able to capitalize. However, early in the second half, the RiverHawks got on the board when Joseph Garcia was able to convert a penalty kick three minutes into the second period.
The Peacocks countered with a goal of their own when a
Gabriel Caetano corner kick landed at the feet of Boland, who put the ball into the roof of the net and tied the game at 1-1 with 27 minutes left in the match. A little over 10 minutes later, UIU struck again.
Hugo Alves got the ball down the left side of the field, used some fancy footwork to find space and crossed the ball into the box where Pena was waiting to volley the ball into the back of the net to give UIU a 2-1 lead.
Five minutes later, Upper Iowa added an insurance goal. With Northeastern State pushing forward trying to get the game-tying goal,
Johnny McBeth sent a beautiful through ball on the ground to a streaking
Blair Lyons, who made a move around the NSU goalkeeper and scored his third goal of the season and gave the Peacocks a 3-1 lead.
Connor Rortvedt made four saves in the net for UIU and improved his record to 8-2-1 on the season. Pena led the Peacocks with four shots, placing three on net including the game-winning goal.
Upper Iowa returns to action at Pattison Field on Sunday, Oct. 25 against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats. It will be UIU's Senior Day, honoring 12 players who will be playing their final match at home for the Peacocks. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m.
