KENOSHA, Wis. – With under 20 minutes left in the match, it looked as if the Maryville men's soccer team was headed for its second 0-0 draw of the weekend. But unlike their scoreless stalemate with No. 7 McKendree two days earlier, the Saints came away victorious against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers as
Yayo Mutombo netted his first goal of the season in the 72nd minute to secure a 1-0 win.
It wasn't just Mutombo's moment, however—the defense shone throughout the contest. Goalkeeper
Steen Nielsen earned his second consecutive shutout, recording five saves on 10 shots faced. The backline of
Lukas Molander,
Alberto Di Pierri, and
Carl Norby held strong, with all three playing the full 90 minutes.
The match marked a stark contrast to Maryville's 4-3 win over the Rangers in last season's NCAA tournament, but the Saints still claimed victory. The win gives Maryville a 6-5 lead in the all-time series, with the last four meetings going in favor of the Saints.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Offenses seemed evenly matched through the first 45, with the visitors taking six shots to the Rangers five.
Mason Crew unleashed a shot just a minute out of the break, setting the tone for the pressure the Saints laid down in the second, which included five corners and seven shots, four of which came within ten minutes of resumed play.
In the 72nd minute, the Saints finally broke through. Freshman Omar Cillic delivered a perfect pass to Mutombo, who had open space ahead of him and calmly slotted home the game's only goal.
The Rangers created one more chance, but another Nielsen save at the 84th sealed the deal.
UP NEXT
The Saints return to the Maryville Soccer Field as they welcome in the University of Indianapolis on Friday, October 18 at 12:30 p.m. They will follow that with a conclusion of the homestand on Sunday Oct. 20 versus Illinois-Springfield.
