Graceland University Men’s Soccer Draws Against MidAmerica Nazarene, 2-2

Olathe, Kan. — Graceland University Men's Soccer fought to a hard-earned 2-2 draw against MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) on Saturday. The contest marked a competitive start to Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) play for both teams, with each side displaying resilience and creating significant scoring opportunities throughout the match.

The match opened with both teams establishing their attacking intent early on. Graceland recorded 13 shots, five of which were on target, while MNU put together 20 shots, eight on goal. The Yellowjackets displayed organized defense and tactical discipline to withstand consistent pressure from MidAmerica's offensive unit.

MNU struck first, with forward Rick Hovinga capitalizing on a well-placed assist from Thomas Giraudo in the 32nd minute. The goal, Hovinga's fourth of the season, gave the Pioneers a 1-0 advantage and briefly shifted momentum in their favor. Graceland, however, responded swiftly.

Just six minutes later, midfielder Kendall Guzman Soto equalized for the Yellowjackets with an unassisted strike, his second goal of the season. Guzman Soto's effort brought the score to 1-1 heading into halftime, keeping Graceland firmly in contention.

The second half saw both teams continue to press for the go-ahead goal. MidAmerica took the lead once more in the 69th minute when Paul Heel found the back of the net with an unassisted goal, his third of the season. The Pioneers appeared poised to take control of the match, but Graceland responded yet again.

In the 69th minute, forward Lucas Porter drew a penalty and converted the ensuing spot kick to level the score at 2-2. The penalty marked Porter's sixth goal of the season and gave the Yellowjackets a critical lifeline as the match entered its final stages.

Graceland goalkeeper Dither Beltran played a pivotal role in maintaining the deadlock, recording six saves on the day. His efforts, combined with a disciplined defensive performance from the backline, helped limit the damage from MNU's dangerous attack, which included notable contributions from Heel and Hovinga.

Yellowjackets head coach Bryan Courtney expressed satisfaction with the result. "This is a good result for us. We knew that this would be a hard-fought game. MidAmerica's recent history and results speak for themselves. They have been the standard of high-level soccer in the Heart and the NAIA for many years."

Courtney emphasized the fairness of the result, noting the balanced nature of the contest. "Sometimes in soccer, you can steal a result from an opponent who is better than you. However, I don't believe this was the case today. I believe this was a fair result with opportunities for both teams to come away with the win. We have a very good team, and the guys are finally starting to believe we are capable of achieving great things."

The match was not without its challenges for Graceland. A red card issued to Guzman Soto in the 86th minute, along with a yellow card to Porter in the 85th minute, left the Yellowjackets down a man in the closing stages. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Graceland held firm to secure the draw.

Courtney acknowledged the impact of fatigue on his squad, particularly in the second half. "Our fitness was a little bit of an issue in the second half. But overall, I am very pleased with the effort and execution from the entire team and staff," he said.

The draw moves Graceland's record to 4-0-3 overall and 0-0-1 in conference play, while MidAmerica Nazarene stands at 3-1-3 overall and 0-0-1 in the HAAC. Both teams will look to build on this result as they continue their respective conference campaigns.

Match Stats:

• Goals: Graceland – Kendall Guzman Soto (37:16), Lucas Porter (68:50, PK); MNU – Rick Hovinga (31:55), Paul Heel (68:35).
• Shots: Graceland – 13 (5 on goal); MNU – 20 (8 on goal).
• Saves: Graceland – Dither Beltran (6); MNU – Tobias Stirl (3).
• Corner Kicks: Graceland – 3; MNU – 4.
• Fouls: Graceland – 14; MNU – 15.
• Yellow Cards: Graceland – Lucas Porter (85:01); MNU – Antonio Mugica (30:01), Jaxon Slaven (52:27), Peyton Hylok (89:55).
• Red Cards: Graceland – Kendall Guzman Soto (86:55).

Next Game:

Graceland returns to action on Wednesday, September 18, as it hosts Culver-Stockton College in its next HAAC matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM at Graceland's Rasmussen Field.