Late Penalty Kick Lifts UNO over Iowa Western
OMAHA, Neb. - Iowa Western Men's Soccer wrapped up their final game of the preseason across the river at Caniglia Field on the campus of the University of Omaha.
The Reivers had early chances but found themselves down in the first half when UNO was awarded a penalty kick in the 15th minute. Theo Klein slotted it into the bottom of the right side of the net for the early lead. Two minutes later, the Mavericks scored a second time to go up 2-0.
Iowa Western made halftime adjustments and dominated much of the second half. Ryusei Shimonishi buried a shot just 1:59 into the period to cut the UNO lead to one. 20 minutes later, Edwin Mudgaza found the equalizer during a scramble for the ball in the box.
With just 15 seconds remaining in the game, UNO had a chance in the Reivers 18 yard box, goalkeeper Javier Zaragoza came out to make the save but the offensive player was pulled down as Zaragoza parried the ball away. Klein again stepped into take the PK and just like the one in the first half, buried it in the bottom right of the net to give the Mavericks a 3-2 victory.
Iowa Western outshot the Mavericks on goal 5-1 in the second half and created multiple chances, including a shot that went off the crossbar in the 65th minute with UNO's goalkeeper on the ground after a scramble in the box.
With IWCC being just across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa Western and Head Coach Mike Brown faced six of his former Reivers and a former Assistant Coach, Cesar Herrera, who took the UNO assistant position last semester.
The Reivers will open up the 2023 regular season campaign on August 26th at home versus Barton CC.
