Men's Soccer Defeats Graceland For First Win of Season

Lamoni, IA – The Hastings College men's soccer team was in need of a confidence booster going into conference play and got exactly that with its 4-2 win over Graceland on Wednesday evening.

It didn't take long for the Broncos to get things rolling as high pressure by the HC front line led to the first goal. The back line of the Yellow Jackets had some trouble as Alessandro Urlati knocked the ball away right to the feet of Ayo Mackinde and he then hit a low shot catching the keeper of guard as the ball found the back of the net for the early 1-0 lead in the 6^th minute.

Hastings went on to make it 2-0 when Urlati ripped a shot from 25-yards out where GU keeper Miguel Roces saved the shot but Lewis Albert was there to put the rebound into an empty net.

The Broncos continued to pile it on with Pablo Arce-Salinas sending a long ball where Guilherme Siqueira out ran the defender flicking the ball over the keeper and then put the finishing touches on the goal to make it 3-0 in the 38^th minute. Hastings carried that lead into the halftime break

To get things going in the second half, the Broncos would take advantage of a hand ball in the box with Ruben Bande stepped up and buried the shot to the left of the keeper for the 4-0 lead in the 53^rd minute.

After that goal, the game began to even out and then Graceland picked up a couple of late goals and had a chance to get to within one with a penalty kick with under a minute to go but Junes Bilan hit the upright on the attempt as HC held on for the 4-2 victory.

Hastings really dominated the action but Graceland held an 18-to-9 advantage in shots and a 7-to-6 advantage in shots on goal.

Arce-Salinas finished the game with five saves as he picked up the victory.

Hastings moves to 1-4-1 on the year and will be back in action Saturday Sept. 16 as Dakota Wesleyan comes to town with kickoff set for 5:30 pm on Lloyd Wilson Field.