Guzman Soto's Early Goal Secures Hard-Fought Win for Graceland

Lamoni, Iowa – Graceland University's men's soccer team continued their impressive run of form with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mount Mercy University in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) play on Wednesday night at John Rasmussen Soccer Complex. The Yellowjackets were able to capitalize on an early goal and held strong defensively to secure the win.

The lone goal came in the 16th minute when midfielder Kendall Guzman Soto found the back of the net with an unassisted strike. Guzman Soto, who has been a key player throughout the season, broke through the Mount Mercy defense and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to give Graceland an early lead.

From that point on, the match turned into a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to create clear opportunities. Graceland goalkeeper Miguel Roces played a pivotal role in keeping the clean sheet, making two crucial saves to deny Mount Mercy any chance of an equalizer.

Head coach Bryan Courtney praised his team's determination and resolve after the match, saying, "These conference games are always tough, and you have to fight for every inch on the field. Our guys showed incredible resolve and put in the hard work to get the win tonight. I'm proud of their effort."

While the Yellowjackets were able to secure the victory, Courtney emphasized that there is still room for improvement. "We can't get complacent," he said. "I feel great about the trajectory of this team as we head into the heart of the conference schedule, but we have to stay focused. There are no easy games in this league, and we need to continue to improve if we want to reach our goals."

Graceland had several opportunities to extend their lead, particularly in the second half, with shots from Liam Frank and Lucas Porter testing Mount Mercy goalkeeper Alejandro Cuende, who made three key saves. Despite these chances, the Yellowjackets were unable to find a second goal, leaving the game tense until the final whistle.

Mount Mercy struggled to break down Graceland's defense, only managing four shots throughout the match, with just two on target. Graceland's backline, anchored by defenders Adam Wiman and David Hopfer, remained organized and resolute, denying Mount Mercy any real scoring opportunities.

The physical nature of the match was evident, with multiple fouls and yellow cards issued to both teams. Graceland received several yellow cards, including cautions for Andrew Porter and Stosh Nevshemal. Mount Mercy also saw one of their players, Keita Karasawa, receive a red card in the 90th minute, reducing them to 10 men for the closing moments of the match.

With the victory, Graceland improved their conference record to 3-2-1 and their overall record to 7-2-3. As they look ahead to the remainder of the season, Coach Courtney is confident in the team's direction but insists there is still work to be done.

"We're entering a crucial part of our schedule, and I like where we are, but we have to keep pushing. The margin for error in this league is small, and every game presents new challenges," Courtney said.

Graceland's next match will be on Saturday, October 5, at 7:30 p.m. when they host Benedictine College in the annual Homecoming match at John Rasmussen Soccer Complex. With momentum on their side, the Yellowjackets will look to build on their recent success in front of a home crowd eager for more.

For more information on Graceland athletics, visit Graceland Yellowjackets.