COUNCIL BLUFFS - 10th-ranked Iowa Western battled the NJCAA DII defending champion Iowa Lakes in a thrilling match at the John and Harriet Wiebe Football & Soccer Complex on Saturday night.
The Reivers (6-0-1) took an early 3-0 lead in the first half on goals by Brian Lopez, Hayato Takayama, and Aron Martinez, all in a span of 6 minutes. However, Jordy Rodriguez picked up a pair of yellow cards within 8 minutes of each other and was ejected from the game.
The Lakers (5-0-2) controlled much of the 2nd half and answered with three straight goals to tie the game in the 79th minute. Iowa Western's Carlos Camara gave the Reivers the lead after a ball go behind the Laker defense and he raced and beat Iowa Lakes Goalkeeper Louis Kruger and poked it in the open net, taking a one-goal lead.
With just 8 minutes left in the match, the Reivers gave up a penalty kick at the edge of the box. Goalkeeper Francesco Tricarico guessed correctly but the shot from Lander Barrio Gonzalez snuck past his outstretched arms to earn the draw for the Lakers in a game that saw 34 combined fouls, six yellow cards, and a red card.
Iowa Western returns to action on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM versus Western Nebraska from Council Bluffs.
