MVC SOCCER TEAMS SWEEP HOME GAMES WITH COLUMBIA COLLEGE

MVC SOCCER TEAMS SWEEP HOME GAMES WITH COLUMBIA COLLEGE

 

Marshall, Mo. (September 10, 2013)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's soccer teams hosted Columbia College in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday night at Gregg-Mitchell Field.  It took double-overtime, but the women's team pulled out a 3-2 victory, and a first half goal was enough for the men's team to defeat the Cougars 1-0.

 

The MVC women's team took control of their match early in the first half when Senior Forward Breann Kinworthy (St. Charles, Mo.) scored the game's opening goal less than 14 minutes after the opening whistle.  Getting the assist for MVC was Junior Midfielder Lucia Martin (Toledo, Spain).  Despite a few more chances for each team throughout the first half, the game went into the halftime break at 1-0 in favor of the Vikings.  The second half started well for MVC as Freshman Midfielder Lais Pazzini (Canoas, Brazil) found the back of the net 10-minutes after the restart off an assist from Junior Forward Kendra Clamors (St. Charles, Mo.).  MVC seemed to have control of the match until Columbia was awarded a penalty kick at the 66-minute mark and converted to cut the Viking lead in half.  Then with less than 20-minutes remaining in regulation a turnover deep in the Viking side of the field led to Columbia's tying goal.  Both teams failed to score a game-winner in regulation, sending the game into overtime.  Neither team had much going in the first overtime, but just three-minutes into the second overtime period Sophomore Defender Michelle Plowman (Barrie, Ontario) scored the winning goal off an assist from Freshman Midfielder Andrea Garcia (Toledo, Spain), giving the Vikings their fourth-straight victory.

 

The women's team, which is now in the "others receiving votes category" of the latest NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll, outshot Columbia by an 18-9 margin, putting 12 of those shots on goal.  Kinworthy now has three goals on the season, while Garcia picked up her third assist and seventh point so far this year.

 

The win improves the women's team to 4-1-1 on the season while Columbia College falls to 3-1-1.

 

On the men's side, it was a matchup of ranked teams as the Vikings came into the game No. 17 and Columbia College No. 15 in the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll.  The Vikings came out early and put pressure on Columbia College, putting up 11 shots in the first half.  With just under 10-minutes remaining in the first half, MVC found their goal when Senior Forward Alberto Linan Gomez (Seville, Spain) scored off a cross from Senior Forward Nicholas Alexander (Manchester, England), giving the Vikings a 1-0 edge.  The game went into halftime at 1-0, but MVC came out and again put pressure on Columbia in the second half.  The Vikings came close twice in the second half to pad their lead when Alexander hit the crossbar at the 56-minute mark, then again just before the final whistle.

 

The Vikings finished the match outshooting Columbia 24-7, putting 13 shots on goal.  Senior Keeper Josh Wells (Kent, England) came up with three saves in the game, finishing with his second shutout of the season.  Gomez scored his first goal of the season and Alexander recorded his first assist and third point this year.

 

The win improves MVC 3-1 on the season while Columbia falls to 2-2-1.

 

Up next for the MVC women's soccer team is a road match at Hannibal-LaGrange University Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  The men's team will host Jamestown University at Gregg-Mitchell Field Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

 

 

About Missouri Valley College

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 40 academic programs, study abroad program, honors program, extracurricular activities, and 13 sports. The most popular majors include education and business, and some new majors are ag-business, nursing, graphic design, and health information systems (associate degree). Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.