Grinnell Falls to Nebraska Wesleyan in a Tough 4-1 Loss
GRINNELL, IA — Nebraska Wesleyan’s men’s soccer team claimed a dominant 4-1 victory over Grinnell College on Saturday, September 21st, at Springer Field. The Prairie Wolves’ offensive firepower proved too much for the Pioneers, who struggled to contain their attack after an evenly matched first half.
Grinnell struck first with a goal in the 24th minute by Ian O’Loughlin, assisted by Soma Suzuki. The early lead brought excitement to the home crowd of 100, but Nebraska Wesleyan responded with authority. The Prairie Wolves tied the game before halftime with an unassisted goal by Eli Rhodes in the 38th minute.
The second half saw Nebraska Wesleyan take control of the game, scoring three unanswered goals. Alex Kohler scored just minutes into the half with an unassisted strike at 47:54. Jaden Hayes added to the tally in the 61st minute, assisted by Eli Rhodes. The final goal came from Nick Brickman in the 83rd minute, sealing the win for the visitors.
Grinnell had opportunities to close the gap but struggled to convert their chances. They recorded 10 total shots, six on goal, compared to Nebraska Wesleyan’s 18 shots, 12 of which were on target. Pioneers’ goalkeepers Jayson Kunkel and Caden O’Neil were kept busy, combining for eight saves in the match.
Nebraska Wesleyan’s goalkeeper Zachary Weis made five saves, including several key stops to maintain his team’s lead in the second half.
Match Breakdown
Grinnell Goal: Ian O’Loughlin (23:22)
Nebraska Wesleyan Goals: Eli Rhodes (38:07), Alex Kohler (47:54), Jaden Hayes (60:45), Nick Brickman (82:35)
Key Players Grinnell’s Ian O’Loughlin led the team with one goal, while Soma Suzuki provided the assist. The Pioneers fought hard but were outmatched in the second half, unable to find the back of the net again.
Nebraska Wesleyan’s Eli Rhodes had a standout performance with a goal and an assist, while Jaden Hayes and Alex Kohler added to the scoring. Nick Brickman capped off the dominant performance with the final goal.
Final Score
Nebraska Wesleyan 4, Grinnell 1
(1-1 at halftime, 3-0 in the second half)
