Mustangs seek to add scoring for season
The main goal, said head coach Tom Maxon and players at Fall Sports Media Day, was to be more productive offensively.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – After assessing how its season openers went, the Morningside men’s and women’s soccer teams are pleased with how they started.
The main goal, said head coach Tom Maxon and players at Fall Sports Media Day on Tuesday, was to score more.
In the season-opening doubleheader against Viterbo, the men won 4-2, while the women came away with a 1-0 victory.
“The last couple of years, we’ve been a really good team, but the results just haven’t come,” Maxon said. “The men, the stats were all in our favor. This year, we found a new way, and it’s just been a great start to the season.”
Overall, the Mustangs took 317 shots last season, which was second most in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, however, the Mustangs scored 20 goals. They also attempted 116 corner kicks and took 156 shots on goal.
Levi Von Hagen scored five times last fall, tied with Jona Fischer. There were nine men who scored goals last season. In Monday’s season-opening win alone, there were three goal scorers.
“It’s great to get some goals and get some confidence in our forwards,” senior Jurre Thielen said. “It’s just about decision-making in the end. I have to figure out what to do in the moment.”
The men were voted to finish third in the Great Plains Athletic Conference preseason poll.
“We need to buy into the system,” Thielen said. “Right now, we just have a clear idea of what we want to do, and it’s good to see it start working. We played the way we wanted to play.”
Maxon also hopes there’s a rise in women’s scoring production, too. In 2023, the women scored 38 times in 172 shots on goal during their 10-5-3 season. The single-game season high in goals was seven against Northwestern on Sept. 20, 2023.
“The pieces are there, we just have to put it together right,” Maxon said. “The way it’ll come comes down to discipline. It’s a great team game and I hope that bodes well for the future.”
Keyera Harmon led the Mustangs with 11 goals last season, and scored the lone goal in the season-opener against Viterbo.
“We need to be more physical,” sophomore Tuva Hammarlund said. “Our starting 11 are all returning players. Now everyone feels more comfortable.”
In the GPAC preseason poll, the Mustangs were voted to finish tied for fourth.