ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The (RV) Northwestern College men's soccer team (6-1-1, 2-0 GPAC) finds the back of the net with nine seconds left in overtime to down No. 22-ranked Morningside (5-2, 2-1 GPAC) in a thrilling Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) soccer match tonight.
The win tonight marks the first Northwestern win over a nationally-ranked squad since the Raiders downed No. 14 Marymount (Calif.) in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. on September 13, 2018. It's the first win over a nationally-ranked opponent on the home pitch at the NWC Soccer Complex since downing No. 19 Hastings on October 20, 2012 in overtime.
Junior midfielder
James Bolger (Boyle, Republic of Ireland/Abbey Community College) was the hero of the night as he found the back of the net in the 100
th minute to secure the come-from-behind victory over the Mustangs. Bolger was able to finish after a beautiful cross into the box from
Jacey McFaddin (So., Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) as he picks up his first assist and point of the season.
"This group has an incredible sense of belief. They believe in each other and they work really hard for each other. Tonight was a testament to their dedication to what we are trying to achieve this season," said head coach
Dan Swier. "It was a great battle between two really good teams and we came out on top this time."
The first half saw to evenly matched GPAC soccer squads go at it, neither side giving the other any good looks at the goal for the first twenty minutes of action. In the 24
th minute, it would be the Mustangs finding the back of the net first as Robin Thomala would score the lone Mustang goal of the match.
Near the end of the first half,
Marco Alessio (So., Chioggia, Italy/Liceo Giuseppe Veronese) would net the equalizer from about 35 yards out, drilling a shot just out of the Mustang keeper's reach on the top left corner of the net.
The Raiders begin GPAC play 2-0 for the first time since 2015, earning the mark in dramatic fashion – defeating the same squad that knocked the Raiders out of the GPAC tournament in the semifinals a season ago.
Both Alessio and Bolger netted their first goals of the season and neither one couldn't come at a better time for the Raiders, as both goals helped lift the Raiders over the Mustangs.
Up Next: Northwestern will play host to Concordia (Neb.) as GPAC play continues this Saturday, September 25. Kickoff set for 3:15 p.m. at the NWC Soccer Complex.
