Men’s soccer faces ups and downs toward end of the season
The Pipers have already clinched their best regular season in program history and are now gearing for a run in the MIAC tournament. The success was immediate as the team started off the year with a rampaging seven game winning streak, sending a message to opponents who saw the Pipers coming up on the schedule.
Recently, the Pipers have been in the loss column more often than at any other point in the season. Despite this, they still sit at 13–5 with two games remaining before the postseason.
Over the weekend the Pipers had a big test against a crosstown rival in the Macalester Scot, who traveled up to Pat Paterson Field. Unfortunately for the Pipers, the match was all Macalester, defeating the Pipers 6–0 in their worst loss of the season.
Before the end of the 28th minute, it was already 4–0 Scots, taking the momentum from the Pipers and coasting to their 12th win overall and sixth in conference play.
The big loss came after an offensive assault against Crown College, with 39 shots and 14 of those coming on goal leading to a 2–1 victory. Crown took an early lead with a goal in the 29th minute, which was the lone goal of the match’s first half.
Thankfully, the Pipers were able to capitalize on the plethora of shots on goal in the second half, with two to secure their thirteenth victory of the season. Junior forward Belal Elghorab tied the game up exactly 62 minutes into the match. This was the first goal of the season for Elghorab and it came at a big moment.
Less than two minutes later, in the 64th minute, Senior Jessie Juarez scored the go ahead goal to give the Pipers a 2–1 lead that they wouldn’t look back on.
The Pipers now just have two games left to decide their seeding in the MIAC tournament which will both be played this week. The first matchup will be over at UW-River Falls (7–8) on Tuesday and the second will be at home this Saturday versus Saint Mary’s (7–9–1).