Strong Second Half Not Enough Vs. Vikings

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Des Moines–The Statesmen men’s soccer team fought back to make it more than interesting Tuesday, but could not complete the comeback in a 5-3 loss to rival Grand View in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.

WPU (4-2-1, 1-1 Heart) dug itself a 3-0 hole by halftime, but showed plenty of intestinal fortitude in recording three goals in the second stanza. Tuesday was the 24th meeting between the two programs, and in a series that has been dominated by GVU (22-2 all-time), the three goals match the most ever by the navy and gold.

The home team added another tally early in the latter half to go ahead 4-0, but then the visitors went to work. Jack Kindell-Brown (Jr., Chelmsford, England, Physical Education) broke through for William Penn with his first-ever goal as a Statesmen, doing so unassisted at the 49:20 mark.

Less than two minutes later, Diego Navarro (Fr., Madrid, Spain, Mechanical Engineering) also drove home an unassisted shot. Navarro’s team-leading goal mark is now up to eight.

The Vikings (4-2-1, 2-0 Heart) put the game on ice in the 73rd minute, but the Statesmen had one more rebuttal when Amgad Hassan (So., Falls Church, Va., Computer Science) hit a try into the netting (unassisted) at the 75:03 juncture. Hassan has scored twice this fall.

Caleb Pipes-Goulsbra (Sr., Lincoln, England, Exercise Science) was credited with six saves in the loss.

“This was a very open game that could have finished 5-5,” Head Coach Jaymee Highcock said. “We played very poorly in the first half and let in some sloppy goals. Our players came out with much more determination in the second half and got right back into the game, but it was a little too late.”

“It is time for us to work harder than ever,” Highcock added. “We will learn our lesson from tonight and be ready next time out.”

Next Up: William Penn travels to Atchison, Kan. Saturday to face #20 Benedictine in Heart action at 7:30 p.m.