GPAC first six clash winds up in double overtime draw

HASTINGS, NEB. – Narrow misses throughout both extra sessions Wednesday, Sept. 29, left Morningside University wondering what might have been in Great Plains Athletic Conference action. 

Head coach Tom Maxon's Mustangs, trying to move up the league standings, battled the Broncos, a fellow top six resident, tooth and nail on their home pitch at Lloyd Wilson Field over 110 tense minutes. Mside held a large advantage in offensive attempts (22-9) of which 10 were struck at the home side's net. However, the only successful try came from freshman midfielder Nathalie Larsson (Gothenburg, Sweden) who took a placement from sophomore defender/forward Jil Hellerforth (Luedensheid, Germany) and found paydirt in the 35^th minute.

Larsson's team-leading fifth goal of the year kept Mside in front on the scoreboard until the early stages of the second half when Hastings responded for a 1-1 tie. From that point on, the visitors had eight strikes either saved, hit the post or rebounded off the crossbar for what would have been the potential match winner.

Senior goalkeeper Sarah Finn (Tampa, Fla.) and Hastings net minder Sofie Jackson-Pedersen turned in key numbers that led to the draw. Finn had four saves among the Broncos' nine total shots, and Jackson-Pedersen posted nine saves versus the Mustangs' offense.

Morningside (5-2-1 overall, 2-1-1 GPAC) returns home to face Doane University Saturday, Oct. 2. The Homecoming Week 2021 contest against the Tigers kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at Elwood Olsen Stadium.