OLATHE, KS. — Grand View's goalkeepers stood tall under heavy pressure, but MidAmerica Nazarene's offense proved too much, and the Vikings fell 5-0 to the Pioneers on Saturday at Pioneer Field. The loss drops Grand View to 2-8-2 overall and 1-6-2 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play, while MidAmerica Nazarene improves to 9-2-2 overall and 6-2-1 in league action.
MidAmerica Nazarene came out firing, and Maya Fritz was busy from the start, stopping a shot in the 7th minute as the Pioneers earned back-to-back corner kicks. Grand View answered in the 10th minute when Adyson Little put a header on frame that was saved. The Pioneers hit the crossbar in the 17th minute, and they broke through a minute later to take a 1-0 lead. Fritz kept Grand View within reach with saves in the 23rd, 32nd and 34th minutes, but MidAmerica Nazarene doubled its advantage in the 29th minute. Dakota Enikova sent a shot wide in the 36th minute for the Vikings, and Fritz finished the half with five saves as Grand View went to the break trailing 2-0.
Janette De la Cruz-Jimenez took over in net for the second half and went right to work, denying the Pioneers in the 46th minute and again in the 53rd. The Pioneers added a third goal in the 52nd minute, and Grand View pushed back with a Riley Pryor corner kick in the 57th minute and a blocked Little attempt in the 59th. De la Cruz-Jimenez made another stop in the 61st minute, but MidAmerica Nazarene extended the lead to 4-0 in the 62nd minute and brought in a wave of substitutes. Grand View turned to its bench as well, and De la Cruz-Jimenez stopped another shot in the 79th minute before Lydia Merchan entered in goal in the 81st. Merchan denied a Pioneers attempt in the 86th minute, but MidAmerica Nazarene added a fifth goal in the final minute to close out the 5-0 win.
GAME NOTES
- Maya Fritz, Janette De la Cruz-Jimenez and Lydia Merchan combined for 10 saves in net for Grand View (5 in each half)
- MidAmerica Nazarene out-shot Grand View 31-3, with a 15-1 edge in shots on goal
- Grand View did not commit a penalty card in the match and was whistled for just 5 fouls
- Grand View had a shot on goal from Adyson Little in the 10th minute and a corner kick from Riley Pryor in the 57th
WHAT'S NEXT?
Grand View returns home to Cownie Soccer Complex on Tuesday October 13th to face off against Park University at 7:30 PM.