DES MOINES, IOWA – The Vikings hosted the Lucky Horse Invitation over the weekend, where they battled the Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears and the Morningside Mustangs in two highly competitive games. The Lucky Horse Invitational was the Vikings season opener and home opener, begining their 2026 slate.
Rocky Mountain | Friday, August 21st
Rocky Mountain broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, capping a sequence that saw Grand View earn a corner kick just moments before through
Nils Knecht. The Battlin' Bears doubled their lead right at the stroke of halftime with a goal in first-half stoppage time, sending Rocky Mountain into the break with a 2-0 edge despite a strong effort from the Vikings, who tested the goalkeeper early through
Justin Figaroa.
Grand View came out swinging in the second half and got the goal it was looking for in dramatic fashion. Just four minutes after entering the match as a substitute,
Kendall Guzman found the back of the net in the 66th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1 and give the home crowd a jolt of life. The goal came moments after Vikings goalkeeper
Luis Helm came up with a huge save to keep Grand View within striking distance.
The Vikings kept the pressure on down the stretch looking for the equalizer.
Pau Gonzalez rattled the crossbar in the 75th minute, and Guzman nearly completed a memorable brace late, ringing the crossbar himself in the 89th minute. Grand View could not find the final breakthrough, but the second half surge showed the fight this team will bring all season.
The match was physical throughout, with six total cautions handed out. Grand View's
Dylan Hunston was carded in the 15th minute, and the Vikings picked up two more cautions in the second half through
Nils Knecht and
Justin Figaroa.
Morningside | Sunday, August 23rd
Justin Figaroa led the charge up top, firing multiple shots on frame and drawing saves from the Morningside goalkeeper while also setting up several corner kick opportunities.
Herman Furumo was a constant threat as well, testing the keeper from distance and delivering a string of corner kicks throughout the match.
Anthony Ulloa had two of the Vikings' best looks of the afternoon, one turned away by a save and another that sailed just wide.
Pau Gonzalez,
Nils Knecht,
Hayato Yoshitake,
Lucas Newhard,
Dylan Hunston and
Seth Comer all had quality attempts of their own, but shots went just wide or high of the frame as Grand View kept pushing.
Rodrigo Carrega added another corner kick chance late as the Vikings searched for a breakthrough.
Defensively,
Dylan Hunston and
Braden Schoene each came up with key stops to keep Morningside off the board, helping Grand View control the run of play from start to finish.
Despite piling up shots and set pieces all match long, the Vikings couldn't turn their offensive pressure into goals, settling for a scoreless draw despite the lopsided chances.
UP NEXT
After a weekend of games, the Vikings won't return until September 5
th, as they take on Cumberland University (Tenn.) at home at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, Iowa.
